York College of the City University of New York

Social Work Program

 

SOCIAL WORK 400:  GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III

 

Dr. Susan Letteney                                      Spring 2003

Office:  3A06                                                 Phone:  (718) 262-2614

Email: letteney@york.cuny.edu                 WebSite:  www.york.cuny.edu/~letteney

 

 

Bulletin Description

 

Social Work 400:  Generalist Social Work Practice III.  3 hrs., 3 cr.  Prereq:  Social Work 370.  Not open to students with credit in Social Work 303.  Continued examination of the generalist model of social work practice with focus on intervention with formal organizations and communities.  Development of professional skills in direct action, advocacy, bargaining, conflict resolution and evaluation.

 

Course Overview

 

This course provides students with the concepts and skills for working with communities and formal organizations.  It emphasizes working with communities and formal organizations.  It emphasizes the transactions among individuals, families, neighborhoods, formal organizations, and larger systems.  Communities and organizations will be assessed, with a focus on economic, social, and political strengths.  It will teach strategies and tactics for community and organization change.  Group advocacy is a major focus of this course.  Also, the course will examine the cultural and social diversity of neighborhoods of New York City.

 

Course Objectives

 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

  1. Demonstrate social work research skill in conducting a community assessment that integrates skill in gathering both quantitative and qualitative data, which incorporate political, social, cultural, physical, and economic understanding of the community ecosystem;

 

  1. Use an ecosystems perspective to describe transactions that take place among the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of society:

 

  1. Identify potential organizing issues that emerge from community concerns about social problems and, using community strengths, draft strategies for addressing conditions that lead to these concerns through organizing efforts that mobilize and empower community based groups;

    2.
  2. Understand the role of political and social philosophy in the development of the values and ethics that inform community work, especially in working toward greater social and economic justice for people who are the victims of poverty, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination;

 

  1. Describe and begin to use the basic interactional and technical skills of community work:  Recruiting, engaging, developing leadership, planning, researching and evaluating, facilitating group processes, using media, providing administrative support to grass roots groups;

 

  1. Use knowledge of human diversity in communicating and action planning with people of various ethnicity, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, and spiritual belief;

 

  1. Describe the history of community organization practice in the United States and relate changes in practice to changes in social conditions and political beliefs;

 

  1. Use critical thinking to analyze social issues and develop thoughtful strategies to make social change;

 

  1. Develop a commitment to making a more humane society through active participation in the social/political life of the society, as a citizen and as a social work professional.

 

Course Requirements

 

The course will offer Òhands onÓ experiences in organizing.  The student is expected to attend class and actively participate in discussions and exercises.  It is hoped that the student will share his/her experiences in the field as related to the course material and social action in general. 

 

Task                                                                                             % of Final Grade

 

Paper 1:  Community Study                                                                     20%

Paper 2:  Analysis of Community Meeting                                             20%

Paper 3:  Designing A Social Action Campaign                                        25%

4 Quizzes                                                                                                  20%

Student Presentation                                                                                 5%

Attendance and Participation                                                                   10%

 

Note: 

 

Late papers will be graded down ½ grade for each day late, including

the day of class.

 

There will be no make-ups given for missed quizzes.

Required Readings

 

Main Text

 

Rubin, H. & Rubin, I.  (2001).  Community organizing and development.  (3rd ed.) 

      Needham Heights, MA:  Allyn & Bacon.

 

Additional Readings

 

Alinsky, S.  (1971).  Rules for radicals.  New York:  Vintage.

 

Fellin, P.  (2001).  The community and the social worker.  (3rd ed.)  Itasca, IL:

      Peacock Publishers, Inc.

 

Mizrahi, T. & Morrison, J.  (Eds.).  (1993).  Community organization and social

      administration.  New York:  The Haworth Press.

 

Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).  (2001).  Strategies of community   

      intervention.  (6th ed.).  Itasca, IL: Peacock Publishers, Inc.  

 

 

Instructional Methods

 

Readings

Role plays

Group discussions

Lectures   

Presentations

Visits to community groups and neighborhoods

Real and simulated experiences in the practice of community work

 

The written assignments are structured to assure that students secure some direct experience in community work: Going to community meetings, making observations about social and economic conditions, interviewing community residents, etc.  From the base of direct (real) community experience, the course requires that the students use analytic skills to develop simulations.  This way, hypothetical tactics and strategies that go beyond the realistic limits of the class assignments can be considered form the perspective of their likely outcomes in the real world.  The faculty makes intense efforts to design assignment from which students can get ÒhookedÓ on activism for social and economic justice and the joys of helping in empowerment. 

 

Course Outline

 

Unit 1       Introduction to Profession, Classmates and Course        (1 hour)

 

1.0              Course requirements-readings, quizzes, and papers

 

 

Unit 2       Defining Communities, Neighborhoods & Organizing

                  Role in Social Work Practice                                              (2 hours)

 

2.0              Communities as places, symbols, shared heritage beliefs, and interest

2.1             Solidarity communities, social networks, communities of interest, social aspects of neighborhoods

2.2              Root causes of feelings of hopelessness, definitions or organizing & power

2.3              Reasons for understanding communities at a macro and micro social work

                  practice level

2.4              Goals of community organizing

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapters 1 and 5

                  Fellin, Chapters 3 and 4 (to p. 77)

 

Unit 3       Dimensions of Communities

                  Social Systems Approach to Studying Communities      (3 hours)

 

3.0              Introduction to social system perspective

3.1             Social units comprising systems-individuals, families, institutions

3.2                    Importance of voluntary associations

3.3                    Physical dimensions of neighborhoods-boundaries & housing

3.4                    Community economic system

3.5                    Community educational system

3.6                    Community political system

3.7                    Community health and social welfare system

3.8                    Diagnosing community strengths and weaknesses

 

Readings:   Fellin, Chapters 4, 10, 11, 12

 

Unit 4       Action Research Methods

                  Ecological Approach to Studying Communities               (3 hours)

 

4.0              Definition of action research and tools of research

4.1             Needs assessment methods

4.2                    Ethnographic studies and interviewing/observation techniques

4.3                    Ecological approach and use of census data

Unit 4       (Continued)

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapter 8     

Marti-Costa, S. & Serrano-Garcia, I.  Needs assessment and community development: An ideological perspective.  In Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J. (Eds.), pp. 267-277.

 

Unit 5       Models, Theories & History of Community Organizing            (3 hours)

 

5.0              Historical periods of social activism, ideological influences on organizing

practice and development of community organizing as a social work field

of practice

5.1             Theories of social change and power

5.2                    Roles and traits of organizers

5.3                    Empowerment, consciousness raising, self assertion & bootstrapping

5.4                    Saul Alinsky and Acorn Model

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapters 3, 4, 6, 7

 

Unit 6       Issues in Organizing                                                                       (3 hours)

 

6.0              Rules for Radicals & AlinskyÕs approach to issue selection

6.1             Differences between issues and problems

      6.2             Social causes of community problems

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapter 2

                  Alinsky, pp. 98-125

 

Unit 7       Leadership and Membership Development                      (3 hours)

 

7.0             Motivation & incentives for joining social action campaigns-

recruitment techniques

7.1             Building Òhigh accessÓ community organizations-structures & approaches

7.2                    Engagement & maintenance of members-retention techniques

7.3                    Training leadership

7.4                    Role of organizer in process

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapters 9 and 11

                  Alinsky, pp. 81-97

Mondros, J., & Wilson, S.  Building high access community organizations: Structures as strategy.  In Mizrahi & Morrison (Eds.).,

pp. 69-85.

Unit 8       Meeting and Group Work Skills in Organizing              (3 hours)

 

8.0              Characteristics of effective meetings-physical surroundings, agendas,

timing, purpose, and preparation

8.1             Role of leaders and organizer

8.2                    Briefing and debriefing of leaders

8.3                    Principles of group work practice applicable to organizing

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapter 10

Bakalinsky, R.  The small group in community organization practice.  In Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.)., pp. 144-150.

 

Unit 9       Strategy and Tactics                                                            (3 hours)

 

9.0              Analyzing targets and sources of power

9.1             Strategy-overall planning, varying symbols, escalating

9.2                    Information tactics

9.3                    Political tactics

9.4                    Legal tactics

9.5                    Confrontational tactics

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapters 11 (pp. 237-238), 12 and 13

                  Alinsky, pp. 126-164.

Zander, A.  Pressuring methods used by groups.  In Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).,  pp. 177-199.

 

 

Unit 10     Building Coalitions and Forging Collaborations            (3 hours)

 

10.0                 Definitions of coalitions, collaborations, alliances and networks

10.1           Challenges & opportunities of coalition work

10.2                 Dynamic tensions in coalitions

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapter 14

Mizrahi, T., & Rosenthal, B.  Managing dynamic tensions in social change       coalitions.  In Mizrahi & Morrison (Eds.)., pp. 11-40.

 

Unit 11     Negotiation and Publicity                                                   (3 hours)

 

11.0                 Negotiating tactics

11.1           Types and purposes of publicity

11.2                 Drafting press releases, flyers and other promotional material

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapter 14 (pp. 321-335)

Unit 12     Program Planning and Community Development           (3 hours)

 

12.0                            Social Production vs. Direct Action Models

12.1           Organizational and community development: Tools & end products of community organizing

12.2                 Steps in program planning process

12.3                 Goals of community development

12.4                 Integrating organizing, program planning and development

 

Readings:   Rubin & Rubin, Chapters 15 and 16

 

Unit 13     Diversity and Community Organizing                             (3 hours)

 

13.0                            Appreciating and acknowledging our own differences and diversity;         

                  Assessing how our own uniqueness impacts on social work practice

13.1           Principles of building non-sexist, multicultural social action campaigns

13.2                 Methods of developing open access community based organizations

 

Readings:   Guitierrez, L.  Working with women of color: An empowerment perspective.  In Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).,

                  pp. 209-217. 

                  Kaul, M.  Serving oppressed communities: The self-help approach.

                  In Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).,  pp.  278-285.

 

Unit 14     Ethics of Community Organizing                                      (3 hours)

 

14.0                            NASW Code of Ethics and relationship to organizing practice

14.1           Guidelines for making ethical decisions

14.2                 AlinskyÕs Of Means & Ends

 

Readings:   Alinsky, pp. 24-47

Swenson, C.  Clinical social workÕs contribution to a social justice perspective.  In Rothman, J., Etlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).,

pp. 217-229.

 

Unit 15     Integrating Organizing Into Generalist Practice            (3 hours)

                 

15.0                            Case examples

15.1           Discussion of Final Papers

15.2           Learning Contracts

 

References

 

Abramovitz, M.  (1993).  Should all social work students be educated for social change:

      PRO in Point/Counterpoint.  Journal of Social Work Education,  29 (1), 6-11.

 

Alinsky, S. D.  (1972).  Rules for radicals:  A pragmatic primer for realistic radicals. 

      New York: Vintage Books.

 

Brager, G., & Holloway, S.  (1977).  A process model for changing organizations from

      within.  Administration in Social Work,  1 (4), 349-358.

 

Brager, G., & Holloway, S.  (1978).  Changing human service organizations: Politics

      and practice.  New York: Free Press.

 

Brager, G., Specht, H., & Torczyner, J.L.  (1987).  Community organizing.  (3rd ed.). 

      New York: Columbia University Press.

 

Burghardt, S.  (1982).  The other side of organizing.  Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.

 

Domhoff, W.G.  (1990).  The power elite and the state: How policy is made in America.

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Etzioni, A.  (1993).  The spirit of community: Rights, responsibilities, and the

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Fabricant, M.B., & Burghardt, S.  (1992).  The welfare state crisis and the transformation

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Fellin, P.  (2001).  (3rd Ed.).  The community and the social worker.  Itasca, IL: Peacock

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Fisher, R.  (1994).  Community organizing in the conservative Ô80Õs and beyond. 

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Freire, P.  (1994).  Pedagogy of hope: Revolving pedagogy of the oppressed.  New York:

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Gamson, W.  (1990).  The strategy of social protest.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

 

Glugoski, G., Reisch, M., & Rivera, F.G.  (1994).  A wholistic ethno-cultural paradigm:

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Goldberg, R.A.  (1991).  Grassroots resistance: Social movements in twentieth century

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Kahn, S.  (1991).  Organizing: A guide for grassroots leaders.  Silver Spring, MD:

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Kim, B., Kendall, J., & Max, S.  (1991).  Organizing for social change: A manual

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Lee, J.A.B.  (1994).  The empowerment approach to social work practice.  New York:

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Mondros, J., & Wilson, S.  (1994).  Power and empowerment in community organizing. 

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Mosher-Ashley, P.  (1993).  Referral patterns of elderly clients to a community health

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Mizrahi, T. & Morrison, J.  (Eds.).  (1993).  Community organization and social

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Pardo, M.  (1991).  Creating community: Mexican American women in eastside Los

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Piven, F.F., & Cloward, R.A.  (1971).  Regulating the poor: The functions of public

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Rothman, J., Erlich, J., & Tropman, J.  (Eds.).  (2001).  Strategies of community   

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Rubin, H. & Rubin, I.  (2001).  Community organizing and development.  (3rd ed.) 

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