Introduction To Social Services
SacramentoCityCollege
Sociology 380 3 Units
Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor:Pam Flaherty
Phone 650-2940
Dept. Office Phone: 558-2401
Mail Box in RN 226
Office (RS282) Hours by Appointment and T/THNoon and M/W 1pm
E-Mail Address:
Class meets in RM RS273
Text:
1. The Self-Awareness Workbook for Social WorkersbyJuliet C. Rothman (referred to as "SAW" in the syllabus)
2. The Working Poor by David Shipler (referred to as WP in syllabus.)
3. When the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (SP) by Ann Fadiman
Goals:1) To understand the social, political, historical, ethical and economic issues that can
affect social services, with special attention to economic challenges.
2)To review social service helping agency systems, including government, profit, nonprofit and charitable organizations.
3)To become familiar with social service agencies in the Sacramento area.
4)To consider the roles and boundaries of a social service worker.
5)To become familiar with contemporary helping strategies and resource development.
6)To explore social services as an occupation at both the paraprofessional level and as part of a career ladder.
Grades:
Homework Exercises (10pt.s X 8 exercises)80 points
Class participation (including pop quizzes)100 points
Final Exam50 points
Agency Research and presentation50 points
Agency Evaluation Portfolio50 points
Service Learning (Extra Credit) 30 points
Total # of Points360 (approx.)
As a percent of total points grades will be calculated as below:
90%-100%= A, 80%-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, Below 60%=F
Class Participation and Assignments: Students will receive in-class credit for class activities and be required to do homework activities as assigned. There will be eight self-awareness exercises required.. Due dates are on the syllabus. Please write your name on all pages. You may either tear assignments out of your book along the perforated edge or copy the pages. The books are not returnable. When the assignments are returned to you, save them in a folder.
Guest Speakers will be invited and syllabus topics and assignments will be adjusted accordingly. The instructor will announce changes to the syllabus.
Attendance: After three unexcused absences you will be dropped from the course unless you have made arrangements with the instructor prior to being absent.. A seating chart will be used. Unexcused absences will severely affect your grade. This is a hands-on class. Late students will be docked5 pt.s for each day that they are late. Excused absences require a Dr's excuse, counselor's note etc. Report excused absences before the class missed (by phone at 650-2940.) It is your responsibility to get notes and assignments for missed classes. The instructor is available during office hours and after class only, for these purposes.
Tardiness: A seating chart will be used. If you are late, please enter the classroom as unobtrusively as possible and sit in the late seat designated area. You will lose 5 points for tardiness after attendance is taken.. Missed assignments and activities due to tardiness will be treated as though you were absent.
Service Learning Extra Credit: We will be producing a holiday resource guide for the Sacramento community. This will be an exercise in resource development and Service- Learning. The process and resource format will be presented by the instructor in class. There will be a limit of five students assigned to this Service-Learning project. If you wish to add Service-Learning you may also propose the development of other community resources.
In addition students who do Service-Learning will be able to add a special Service-Learning unit to this course. Student participation in Service-learning will be noted on transcripts and many students find this valuable for employment resumes, particularly working in the human service sector.
Service-Learning information and registration materials will be available the second day of class.
Exams: There will be open book pop quizzes on the reading material and one take-homeFinal Exam. The Final Exam will be given one week prior to the exam and students will submit the exam during the regularly scheduled final exam period.
Agency Presentation/Class Evaluation
Each student will select a social services organization and make a 15 minute presentation to the class. You will not be required to turn in anything written (unless you use a guest speaker.) It is suggested that you conduct an informational interview with an administrator of the agency. Presentation dates will be assigned the second week in class.
The instructor must pre-approve agencies. You may be as creative as you like; handouts, brochures, etc. You may invite a pre-approved (by instructor) guest speaker but you will still be responsible to know the information required below. If you use a guest speaker you will be required to turn in a one-page summary covering the information below. Guest speakers are contingent on having class time available and are limited to 30 minute presentations. Because of time constraints it is advised that you schedule your presentation early. The following topics should be addressed in your presentations:
a) Agency purpose and history
b) Description of services
c) Client eligibility requirements
d) Your evaluation of the agency's strengths and weaknesses
e) Kinds of jobs available and employee qualifications required.
Agency presentations will be scheduled during the first three weeks of class for dates throughout the semester.
Agency Evaluation Portfolio: Students will evaluate all agency presentations according to an evaluation format distributed by the instructor and similar to the above description of the agency presentation evaluation. Students should keep their evaluations, brochures and handouts regarding agency presentations in the portfolio. The portfolios will be graded in class periodically and during the Final Exam period.
Course Policies:
1) All Self-Awareness workbook assignments (written in bold at the top of each week's topics) are due at the beginning of the first day of class for that week, as noted on syllabus. A grading rubric will be used with an indication (not graded) of how you are doing regarding grammar and legibility.
2) Bring your syllabus to class daily to note changes and additional assignments. If you are absent it is your responsibility to find our about any syllabus changes.
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Topic Outline
Reading assignments need to be completed beforeclass. Each reading assignment is in bold before the weeks' activities. Students will be responsible for discussing the guide questions and novel readings that are assigned at the beginning of class.
Week 1
8/26What are Social Services?
Course requirements and project assignments
What do social service workers do?
Social Service Jobs: Paraprofessional and Career Ladders (a brief overview)
Dynamics of initial meetings- "Predictions"
Self-Awareness and Social Services
Week 2SAW Exercise 1 (page 9) Due 9/4
9/2Read WP Pages 3-38Due 9/9
(Above continued)
Perception: "What You See Is Not"
Types of Social Services Organizations
Sociological Imagination: How biography affects life chances.
Service Learning Class Assignment presented
Week 3SAW, Chapter Exercise 2 Due 9/11
9/9Read WP Pages 39-76 Due 9/16
History of Social Services in America
Film: Legacies of Social Change
Activity: Know yourself as a Helper
Historical Values and Human Services
Activity: Barriers to Help
Week 4SAW Chapter Exercise 3 Due 9/18
9/16Read WP Pages 77-120 Due 9/23
Understanding the dynamics ofpoverty
Demographics of wealth and income in America
Resources for working with people living in poverty
Generational vs. situational poverty
Rural vs. urban poverty
Hidden rules of social class
"People Like Us" film
Life chances; poverty and children
Poverty, culture, addiction treatment and recovery
Week 5SAW Exercise 4 Due 9/25
9/23Read WP Pages 121-173Due 9/30
Poverty continued, Film: Visions
Week 6SAW Exercise CH 5 Due 10/2
9/30Read WP Pages 174-230due 10/7
Poverty continued
Activity: Life Chances
Week 7SAW Exercise CH6 due 10/9
10/7Read WP 174-230Due 10/14
Organizational Structure of Social Services
Government Institutions: Federal, State, County, City
For-Profit Corporations
Nonprofit Organizations
Activity: Human Services Literacy
Week 8SAW Exercise Ch 7 Due 10/16
10/14Read WP Pages 231-284 10/21
Ecological Life Matrix Model
Resource mapping and communities
Volunteer and social action movements
Activity: Evaluating Social Service Programs
Week 9SAW Exercise Ch 8 Due 10/23 (Unit 11 summary is NOT assigned)
10/21Read WP Pages 285-309 Due 10/28
Multicultural Populations,Communication
Activity: Diversity simulation, white privilege
Week 10Legal Issues in Human Services
10/28Legal Issues: right to adequate treatment; right to least restrictive setting; right to refuse treatment; documentation
The Law as a Resource and as a Restriction
What Every Worker Needs to Know
Confidentiality,Privileged Communication
Privacy, Mandatory Reporting
Week 11
11/4Read SP Pages 1-37 Due 11/11
Values and Ethical Dilemmas
Professional Choices--Film
Week 12Read SP Pages 38-92 Due 11/18
11/11Special Populations:
Adults who are older
Persons who are disabled
Children placed out-of-home
Week 13Read SP Pages 93-180 Due 11/25
11/18Special Populations and Services (continued)
Persons who are mentally ill
Persons who have drug and alcohol addictions
Activity: Virtual Client
Week 14Read SP Pages181-249 Due 12/2
11/25(above continued)
Holiday Break 11/27-30
Week 15Read SP Pages 250-278 Due 12/9
12/2Final Agency Presentations/ Wrap-up Class and Service Learning Project Due
Week 16When The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down --Open Book Quiz
12/9Case Management
Staying Current and Avoiding Burnout
Activity: Create a Human Service Program
Week 17Final Exam Tuesday, December 16th 12:45pm
12/16