I identifies and considers how society carries out its caring responsibilities. The course examines the role that ideology, culture, power, social movements, and special interest groups play in shaping social welfare policies and programs. Programs that have been, and are being, generated to address social welfare problems are explored. The concepts necessary to make an assessment of social welfare policy and services are presented. The mission and role of the social work profession in developing solutions, promoting change and delivering services are considered.
Social workers are citizens, professionals, and employees.
This course considers the tensions that are possible among these multiple roles. Consistent with the commitment of social work to provide social and economic justice to all individuals, the course pays particular attention to the needs of individuals of color, children, women, and those in our society who are aged, poor, gay or lesbian, and those who live with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities. Finally, the course serves as a forum for the examination of personal and social values and provides an opportunity to make connections between values and actions. Values -A commitment to the principles of social and economic justice, and their use in the development of social policy. Skills -An ability to identify the major conceptual components of a societal problem, society s corresponding response, and the values that drive that response.