BSW320 Generalist Practice: Communities and Organizations (3 cr.)

Prerequisite(s): APSY300   or PY111 or equivalent; APSY305  or PY211 or equivalent; BPH405  or ST132 or equivalent
This course provides the foundation for macro social work practice with organizations, and communities as vehicles of change to promote individual and community well-being. Students utilize social work practices that build on approaches such as person-in-environment (PIE) and ecosystems theory. Models of collective action, and community organizing are introduced to engage diverse stakeholders. Students critically reflect on the ethical use of self as an essential resource to engage and sustain collaborative action within and among diverse constituencies.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Examine how group facilitation and leadership skills are used to engage, support, and sustain varied forms of group work, including participatory collaborative action, among diverse stakeholders.
2. Analyze the relationship between the profession’s commitment to ethical social work practice, interdisciplinary participation in group decision making, and developing one’s professional social work identity.
3. Examine strategies by which organizations and communities are empowered to advocate for policy or practice change to promote human rights, environmental, social justice, and community well-being, in ways that honor self-determination.
4. Identify, collect, and present relevant information to support the work of advocacy groups, organizations, and communities in establishing priorities for action.
5. Explain historic and present examples of social movements in which informal and formal procedures and rules either reproduce patterns of social dominance or ensure interdependence, inclusion, culturally responsive practice, and self-determination among and between stakeholders, organizations, or communities.
6. Distinguish the role of self-advocacy groups in establishing, monitoring, and changing definitions of success embedded in practice, program, and policy outcomes.
7. Identify practice outcome evaluation methodologies that value the cultural strengths, expertise, and perspectives within organizations, and communities.