YORK COLLEGE
THE CITY UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK
Social Work Program
Instructor: Dr. Susan Letteney Office:
Room
3A06
Email: letteney@york.cuny.edu Phone:
(718)
262-2614
Prereq: Social Work 101, Political Science 103, Sociology 101. Prereq or Coreq: English 125. Consideration of socio-economic conditions that have influenced the development of major contemporary social welfare institutions; emphasis on the interrelationships of social problems and policies, social welfare measures, and the values of contemporary society; introduction to social policy analysis
COURSE OVERVIEW
Social Work 203 follows Social Work 101, which introduced
the student to the social welfare arena, the profession of social work, and the
profession's values, knowledge, and social action activities; and precedes
Social Work 293, the first practice course.
The purpose of the social policy sequence is to contribute
to the preparation of generalist social workers who: 1) are knowledgeable about
social welfare programs and policies; 2) can apply this knowledge in social
work interventions; and 3) can participate effectively in efforts to improve
both policies and programs.
Social Work 203 is the first in a two-course sequence. It integrates content from several
domains (philosophy, history, sociology, economics, political science and
social work) into a coherent paradigm of the US social welfare system. The course focuses on three primary
themes: the evolution of US social welfare policies and programs; the
development of social work as a profession; and selected current social welfare
programs.
In light of the Social Work Program and York College
missions, special attention is given to programs and policies that are
particularly relevant to oppressed groups, diverse cultures, urban settings and
international perspectives. Programs
and policies studied are drawn largely from these domains. In considering social work's dual
focus both on individual human suffering and on social change to prevent this
suffering, the courses stress the impact of social problems on individuals, issues
related to the application of knowledge about social programs and policies to
social work practice, and the ethical considerations crucial to the development
and implementation of programs and polices. Finally, the courses in the social policy sequence stress
the importance of using research-based knowledge in the development and
implementation of social programs.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able
to:
1. demonstrate knowledge of
the forces that shaped current US social welfare policies and
programs
2. demonstrate knowledge of
the forces that shaped the social work profession
3. demonstrate beginning
knowledge of US social welfare policies
4. demonstrate beginning
ability to analyze the relationship between social problems and social
policies/programs
5. demonstrate knowledge of
selected national social welfare programs, e.g., TANF, SSI, OASDI
6. demonstrate knowledge of
one local social welfare program in an area of interest
7. recognize the global
nature of many social welfare problems and the impact that human diversity has
on how such problems are addressed
8. demonstrate knowledge of
at least one social welfare program in one foreign country
9. demonstrate beginning
professional communication skills (oral and written)
10. use print and electronic
library resources to find information about domestic and foreign social welfare
programs
11. use correct APA
bibliographic style
12. be prepared to assume
professional responsibility to advocate for policies and programs that are
responsive to human needs, and to empower traditionally oppressed peoples to
achieve mastery over their condition.
Course Requirements
and Grading Policy
Please refer to the York
College Bulletin for policies on academic integrity. The student is expected to
attend, and be on time for all class sessions; more than one absence or
lateness will result in a lowering of the grade.
Final written assignments
and designated preliminary assignments must be submitted on time. The penalty
for lateness in submission of preliminary assignments will be refusal of
instructor to provide feedback; the penalty for lateness in submission of final
assignment will be the reduction of grade by 1/2 grade for each day late.
There will be no
make-ups given for quizzes or exams.
Required
Reading
Coll,
B.D. (1971). Perspectives in
public welfare. Washington, DC: US Department of Health,
Education and Welfare.
Popple,
P.R., and Leighninger, L. (2002). Social
work, social welfare and American society.
(5th
ed.). MA: Allyn & Bacon .
Trattner,
W.I. (1999). From poor law to
welfare state (6th ed.) .New York: The Free Press.
Code
of ethics (1999). Washington, DC:
National Association of Social Workers.
Publication
manual of the American Psychological Association. (5th ed.).
(2001).
Washington,
D.C.: American Psychological Association.
* All
readings are on reserve in the library
A comprehensive
examination given near the end of the semester, which covers the entire
semester's work, is administered sequence-wide. The final grade is determined
by taking into account the student's grade on this exam, other exams and
assignments the individual instructor deems necessary, as well as attendance
and class participation.
15
points 3
Quizzes (5 points each)
10
points Homework
Assignments
20
points Mid-Term
Examination
25
points Final
Examination
10
points Social
Welfare Program (US) Assignment
10
points Social
Welfare Program (Foreign) Assignment
10 points Assistance
in moving class discussions forward; includes knowledgeable class
participation, punctuality and attendance
á
Lectures
by instructor
á
Presentations
by students
á
Class
exercises and discussions
á
Reading
assignments
á
Writing
assignments with instructor feedback
á
Quizzes/Exams
á
Videos
á
Attendance
at social work conference and/or political rally and/or other relevant activity
á
Internet
use for research on social policies
Note: Readings to have been
completed by
first date of topic, unless otherwise specified.
Unit 1 Introduction
(3
hours)
1. Relevance of social
programs and policy to social work
2. Nature of the course
Unit
2 Basic
Concepts (3
hours)
Readings: Course
Syllabus
Handout: What is A
Professional Journal?
Popple & Leighninger,
chapters 1 and 2
A. Competing
perspectives
B. Basic
concepts
C. Social
work as a profession
Unit 3 Philosophical
issues in US Social Welfare (3
hours)
Reading: Popple
& Leighninger, chapter 2
A.
Public/private
assistance
B.
Religious/nonsectarian
assistance
C.
Selective/universal
assistance
D.
Residual/institutional
assistance
E.
Blaming
the victim
Unit 4 Historical Themes and Major Events (9 hours)
Coll
Trattner, chapters 1-5
A. Judeo-Christian
tradition
B. Feudal
Era
C. Statute
of Laborers
D. English
Poor Laws; Government responsibility for the poor
E. Colonial
years and the American Revolution
F. Early
years of the Republic
G. Indoor/outdoor
relief
H. Laissez-faire
social welfare
I. Social
Darwinism
J. Charity
Organization Societies
K. Settlement
Houses
L. New
Deal; Social Security Act of 1935
M. War
on Poverty
N. Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
O. Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Unit
5 Social
Problems and the Need for Social Welfare (3 hours)
Popple & Leighninger
chapter 3 (p. 81-100)
A. Definition
B.
Examples
C.
Why
social welfare is necessary
D.
Research:
need for, and use of, in social problems
A. Poverty (6 hours)
1. The problem
a. Definition: poverty
line
b. Extent, differential
distribution
c. Causes
d. How and why it is a
social problem
e. Research in the
poverty arena
2. Income Maintenance
policies and programs
a.
Social
Insurance
1)
Old Age
Survivor's and Disability Insurance
2)
Unemployment Insurance
3)
Worker's
Compensation
b.
Public
Assistance
1)
Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
2)
Supplemental
Security Income
3)
General
Assistance
c. Research in Income Maintenance
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Unit 6 Social
Welfare Policies and Programs (Continued)
B.
Human
Diversity, Racism & Discrimination (3
hours)
Readings: Popple
& Leighninger, chapter 5
1. The problem
a.
Definitions
b.
Extent
c.
Causes
d.
How
and why it is a social problem
2.
Strategies
against discrimination
a. Civil Rights legislation
b. Educational initiatives
c. Class exercise and or video
3. Research in racism and
discrimination
C. Child and Family
Welfare (6
hours)
Readings:
Popple
& Leighninger, chapter 10
1.
Structure
of us child welfare system
a. Supportive services
b.
Supplementary
services
1) Day care services
2) Protective services
a)
Definition
b)
History
c) Major causes
requiring protective services, i.e., abuse/neglect
d) Permanency planning
e) Social workers'
responsibility
c. Substitute Services
1)
Foster
family care
2)
Institutional
care
2.
Major
normative issues
a.
Parens
patriae versus parents' rights
b.
Cultural
norms versus child abuse
3.
Research
in child and family welfare
Unit
6 Social
Welfare Policies and Programs (Continued)
D. Health Care (3
hours)
Readings:
Popple
& Leighninger, chapters 12 and 13
1.
Medical
health care system
a.
Uninsured,
under insured
b.
Auspices
of health care
c.
Major
government programs
1) Medicare
2) Medicaid
d.
Health
care for special groups
1)
Children
2)
Elderly
2. Mental health
a.
History
in US
b.
Major
programs and services
3. Social
work and health care
4.
Research in health care
E. Gerontology (3
hours)
Readings: Popple
& Leighninger, chapter 15
1. Definitions
2.
Demographics
of aging
3.
Economics of aging
a.
Sources
of income for non-poor
b.
Sources
of income for poor
4.
Housing
a.
Independent
housing
b.
Group
housing
5.
Health
care
6.
Ageism
7.
Social
policy: Older Americans Act
8.
Research
in gerontology
Unit 7 Social Welfare Programs Outside the US (3 hours)
1.
Overview of
international social welfare
2.
Student presentations
FINAL EXAMINATION
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