SOCW 104 - Child Welfare

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course focuses on the characteristics, strengths and service needs of families and children in the child welfare system. It examines and builds policy and practice skills related to family preservation services, child maltreatment, substitute care and permanency planning. The course considers family events within an ecological systems approach and works to build appreciation and sensitivity to various family forms and cultural patterns. 

 

Text
Crosson-Tower, Cynthia. Exploring Child Welfare: A Practice Perspective. 7th ed. Pearson, 2018.

Objectives
The student will be able to 

A. Identify general policy issues and trends in a variety of sectors of family and children’s services. 

B. Examine how one’s personal life experiences influence service provision. 

C. Identify the range of services available in child welfare.  

D. Describe how family structure may affect families and children. 

E. Describe how various forms of child maltreatment differ. 

F. Identify the familial and developmental impact of various forms of child maltreatment. 

G. Discuss systemic levels of effective intervention with troubled families. 

H. Identify ways in which the systemic traumatization of children and families may be reduced or mitigated. 

Content
A. Child welfare practice and theoretical framework 

B. Personal and professional values 

C. Major child welfare services, policies, and welfare reform 

D. Family structures 

E. Forms of child maltreatment 

F. Developmental impact of violence 

G. Systemic interventions 

H. Reducing child and family trauma

Student Evaluation
A. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation  

B. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation  

C. Objective and essay exams 

D. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation  

E. Objective and essay exams 

F. Objective and essay exams 

G. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation  

H. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation  

Bibliography
Dozier, M., and O. Lindhiem. “This Is My Child: Differences Among Foster Parents in Commitment to Their Young Children.” Child Maltreatment 11 (2006): 338-45. Print.  

Faller, Kathleen Coulborn. Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Maltreatment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2003. Print.  

Friedrich, William N. Psychological Assessment of Sexually Abused Children and Their Families. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2002. Print.  

James, Sigrid. “Why Do Foster Care Placements Disrupt? An Investigation of Reasons for Placement Change in Foster Care.” Social Service Review 78.4 (2004): 601-27. Print.  

Kolko, David J., and Cindy Cupit. Swenson. Assessing and Treating Physically Abused Children and Their Families: a Cognitive-behavioral Approach. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2002. Print.  

Wells, K. “Child Protection and Welfare Reform.” Child Abuse & Neglect 30.11 (2006): 1175-179. Print.