California State University, Sacramento SWRK 259: FALL 2018

Transcription

1 California State University, Sacramento SWRK 259: FALL 2018 Division of Social Work Maria Dinis, Ph.D., MSW Office hours: TH 3:00pm-6:00pm or by appt. (MRP 4021) Phone: (916) Social Work 259: International Social Work, Section 1 Course Description This seminar is designed for students interested in international social work practice and policy abroad or transnational or transcultural social work practice and policy in the United States with immigrants, refugees, international adoptions, advocacy work concerning international issues, etc. This seminar is also relevant to social work students who wish to apply principles of social development and asset-based community development in disenfranchised, marginalized and vulnerable communities anywhere. Course Objectives This course will assist students to accomplish the following objectives: 1) Apply theoretical frameworks such as social development, globalization from below, and human rights to international social work practice (EPAS 1 & 3); 2) Become familiar with the international social work profession and code of ethics (EPAS 1); 3) Identify the structure of the United Nations and its international conventions (EPAS 5); 4) Acquire introductory knowledge of role of non-governmental organizations (EPAS 3 & 5); 5) Gain in-depth knowledge of social issues in a specific country/region of the world (EPAS 3 & 5); 6) Prepare for overseas, transnational or transcultural social work practice (EPAS 3 & 5). 1

2 Competency Where is it in the course? Assessment # 1 Demonstrate Ethical & Professional Behavior #3 Advance Human Rights & Social, Economic, and Env. Justice Cox & Pawar, Ch. 1-16; Lecture/Discussion; Group. Ex. Cox & Pawar, Ch. 1-16; Lecture/Discussion; Group. Ex. Paper/Sheet Paper/Sheet 5 Engage in Policy Practice Cox & Pawar, Ch. 1-16; Lecture/Discussion; Group. Ex. Paper/Sheet; In- Class Presentations Course Format This course is conducted on a discussion-laboratory basis. You are expected to have carefully read and studied all assigned readings prior to class sessions. Your preparation and participation are integral parts of this learning process. You will lead and participate in group discussions about international social work practice and social work practice issues. Small group work, discussion, one-to-one exercises, guest speakers and videos will be utilized. Please speak with me during office hours if you do not believe that your needs are being met. Course Expectations and Norms This course requires your active participation. In order to enhance feelings of safety and to create a positive learning environment, the following are important: You attend class and are prompt. You have read the assigned material and come to class prepared. You recognize your own biases and prejudices and respect others with whom you disagree. You do not ridicule or belittle others. You are committed to personal/professional growth and self-exploration. You resolve issues that you may have with other group members. If you are not sure how to accomplish this task, we can discuss possible strategies. It is not acceptable to miss class in order to avoid the group. Turn off your cellular phone or pager during class time unless you are expecting an important phone call, at which point, please turn your phone to vibrate/silent mode. Laptop use during class time is to be strictly limited to note-taking. Please be advised that reading required class material for this class or any other class from your laptop during class time is not permitted. Browsing the internet during class time is not permitted. Reading your during class time is not permitted. Please make sure that you adhere to this policy as I reserve the right to lower a student s grade if it becomes apparent that the student is doing more than just taking notes on the laptop. 2

3 Accommodation The university is committed to providing every reasonable academic accommodation to students with disabilities. The Office of Services to Students with Disabilities provides university academic support services and specialized assistance to students with disabilities. Individuals who need such accommodation must notify the instructor to arrange said accommodation. This instructor is committed in every effort to accommodate all special needs. Policy on Incomplete Incomplete I course grades will be considered only in emergency and hardship situations. Requests for such a grade option must be student-initiated and negotiated with the instructor as required by California State University, Sacramento Registrar policies. Adherence will be paid to university, college, and division of social work policies governing the circumstances under which I grades is given and completion deadlines are set. Other Resources Throughout the semester you will be searching in the literature for research reports related to your area of interest. CSUS Library, as well as local public, medical (hospital), college and university libraries, have various resources available to assist you in locating these studies. If you have not had an orientation from a reference librarian to the CSUS Library system, including remote access to library resources, please schedule such a meeting as soon as possible by calling Reference and Information Desk at (916) In addition, you may find the Internet a useful resource. Please bring helpful sites and searching strategies to class to share. Attendance, Assignments and Grading Each student s final grade will result from averaging the scores obtained from all the assignments required by the course. Attendance and participation are critical to the success of any course in the social work program. Class attendance and participation is a prerequisite in receiving a passing grade. Students are expected to attend all classes except for ill health and natural calamities such as bad weather. Situations such as ill health must be reported to the instructor within the week. Every time a student accumulates two tardiness (10 minutes after class in session)/or leaving the classroom early without the instructor s permission will be counted as one absence. Each student is allowed one absence without any grade penalties. The overall grade for the course will drop by half of a grade point for each absence thereafter (i.e., from an A to an A- if absent twice and from an A to a B+ for the third absence). However, having four absences during the semester will automatically result in the student receiving an F grade for this course regardless of his/her performance in all required assignments. Although we consider attendance as part of participation because participation is crucial to the growth and learning of each class member and each student is expected to attend 3

4 classes and actively participate in the presentations and discussions, in the event of an immediate personal crisis, contact the instructor and this will constitute an excused absence. Support with Writing Assignments The College of Health and Human Services Writing Center, located in Solano Hall 5000, is a program designed to assist students with all stages of writing from pre-writing through editing a text utilizing a peer-tutoring environment. The Center is staffed by graduate students from the English Department. Hours will be posted at the beginning of the Fall semester. If you have questions about the Center, please call (916) or the English Department for more information. The assignments required for this class are listed in Table 1. Course Assignments 1) International Social Work Practice or Policy Issue Paper (EPAS 1, 3 & 5) Identify an international issue that is a matter of concern to you. The final text of your paper should be no more or less than pages, typed, double-spaced, and written using APA format. In developing your paper, adhere to the following outline and required content areas: Global Dimensions: Identify the population that is affected by the issue. Develop a concise statement of the issue or problem. Provide background information of the issue or problem and about the global dimensions and implications of the issue. Provide content on the relationship of the problem to diversity and to vulnerable populations. Assess the current impact and the expected consequences of the issue or problem that you have selected (10% of total grade for the international practice or policy paper). Transnational Comparisons: Identify and describe two or more countries also struggling with or advocating for the same problem or issue. Include the United States if the issue or problem exists in the United States or if you can identify advocacy groups in this country. Provide background information about the dimensions of the problem in your selected countries. Include a comparative discussion on the types of interventions and strategies used to address the issue of problem. Identify governmental and nongovernmental organizations that address the issue in your selected countries. Discuss the outcomes of their initiatives and their limitations in problem-solving (20% of total grade for the international practice or policy paper). 4

5 Conclusions: Summarize your findings regarding the distinctions between countries to address the issue or problem. Include a comparison of interventions or strategies used in your selected countries that may be useful locally and then compare interventions or policies used here that you think may be useful in your selected countries to solve the issue or problem you selected (10% of total grade for the international practice or policy paper). References: You are expected to use at least 15 references in developing and completing this assignment. These may be internet (peer-reviewed) resources or a combination of internet, journals, texts and/or monographs (5% of total grade for the international practice or policy paper). 5

6 2. Country Focus Presentation (EPAS 5) Choose a target nation, population and issue of interest to you. Develop a brief (1-2 paragraph) written rationale for your choice (5% of total grade for the paragraph and summary sheet assignment). European countries, the United States, and Canada may not be used for this assignment unless you were born and raised in nations other than these (or by specific permission of the instructor). This nation, population or issue of interest cannot be a duplicate of your paper. After choosing your nation you will be asked to present information about that nation to other class participants for discussion. You are strongly encouraged to look beyond U.S. sources for your information. In addition to your presentation, please prepare a one-page summary sheet of the important talking points regarding your chosen nation for the instructor and your classmates. All presentations must include the following background information in the summary sheet: A. The identification of the nation: historical, political and social contexts (include geographic differences); B. Your intervention interest(s) or your area(s) of international social work interests; C. Current demographics (population, education, life expectancy, household income, major ethnic groups, languages); D. Current social, economic and political issues (Sections A-D represent 5% of total presentation grade and 5% of total grade for the paragraph and summary sheet assignment); and E. Interactions between the U.S. and your chosen nation (5% of total presentation grade). 1. Foreign policy Issues 2. Colonialism: old and new 3. Identify your chosen country s signatories in the U.N. charters The summary sheet (EPAS 1, 3 & 5) should not be read to your classmates during your presentation. Instead, use the summary sheet as a guide to your presentation, which should focus primarily on your intervention interest(s) or your area(s) of international social work interests (15% of total presentation grade). Your entire presentation should be about half hour long and you may use video or DVD that illustrates your country or the issues (video cannot exceed 10 minutes). Also pose at least one question(s) for your classmates to discuss in the last 5-10 minutes of your presentation (5% of total presentation grade). 6

7 Table 1: List of Assignments, Percentage of Grade and Due Dates Assignments % of your Grade DUE DATE 1. International Practice or Policy Paper = 45% 11/28/18 2. Paragraph and Summary Sheet = 5% On-Going 3. In-class presentation = 35% On-Going 4. Class participation, group work and discussion 15% Every Session Total = 100% Table 2: Grading Scale Grading Scale: % = A 90-93% = A % = B % = B 79-81% = B % = C % = C Below 70% not passing Required Texts: Cox, D. R., & Pawar, S. M. (2013). International social work: Issues, strategies, and programs (2 nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ***Additional readings are and/or may be assigned. All readings will be on reserve in the library or passed out in class. Recommended Texts: Midgley, J. (1995). Social Development: The Development Perspective in Social Welfare. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. Midgley, J. (1997). Social welfare in global context. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc. 7

8 Prigoff, Arline (2000) Economics for Social Workers: Social Outcomes of Economic Globalization with Strategies for Community Action. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning. Ramanathan, C., & Link, R. (1999, 2004). All our futures: Principles and resources for Social Work in a Global Era. Belmont: CA: Wadsworth. Van Wormer, Katherine (1997). Social Welfare: A World View. Belmont, CA: Thomson. Course Outline and Discussion Week 1 August 30, 2018 Introductions; course syllabus, assignments and requirements, expectations, and grading scale. Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 1 Week 2 September 6, 2018 International Social Work Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 1 and 2 Week 3 September 13, 2018 The Global Context Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 3 Week 4 September 20, 2018 Programs and strategies for International Social Work Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 4 8

9 Week 5 September 27, 2018 Global Development Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 5 Week 6 October 4, 2018 Local-level Development Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 6 Week 7 October 11, 2018 Poverty: Background and Issues Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 7 Week 8 October 18, 2018 Poverty: Programs and Strategies Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 8 Week 9 October 25, 2018 Conflict and Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Background and Issues Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 9 Week 10 November 1, 2018 Conflict and Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Programs and Strategies Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 10 9

10 Week 11 November 8, 2018 Displacement and Forced Migration: Background and Issues Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 11 Week 12 November 15, 2018 Displacement and Forced Migration: Programs and Strategies Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 12 & 13 Week 13 November 22, 2018 (Happy Thanksgiving Day) Campus Closed Week 14 November 29, 2016 (PAPER DUE) International Social Work with Specific Populations Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 14 Week 15 December 6, 2018 Challenges for International Social Work for the 21 st Century Evaluation of International Social Work Readings: Cox & Pawar, Chapter 15 & 16 10