Lecture: 4 hours/week
Lecture
Presentation
Small group discussion
Field activities
Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge, and best practice. The following values and principles, consistent with professional standards, inform course content:
- Macro social work is predicated on respect for the inherent capacity and resiliency of people and communities, their right to self-determination, and a commitment to anti-oppressive, decolonizing, and anti-racist practice.
- Social work’s mission to advance human rights and social justice necessitates community mobilization and empowerment, advocacy, and systemic change.
- Social work knowledge and skills are directly applicable to working with communities and other social systems, and social work is well-placed to provide support and leadership to social change initiatives.
- Social workers serve their clients and the community best when they are able to negotiate for resources and services across social systems.
- Competing interests will always challenge coherent and planned community response and development.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the meaning of macro social work and its application to organizational and community development, advocacy, and negotiation between social systems.
- Describe the links between macro social work and the advancement of human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability.
- Outline ways in which macro social work can support decolonization and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Identify the strengths and limitations of different approaches to macro social work practice.
- Describe how to implement practical strategies for social change (e.g. developing policy, evaluating programs, mobilizing community, managing projects and securing funding).
- Apply principles of collaboration and advocacy in a community setting.
- Create a community needs assessment/analysis that results in recommendations to support community empowerment and social change.
Evaluations will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will include both formative and summative components. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Written papers
Exams
Presentations
Field activities
Participation
Attendance
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts may include:
Brown, M. E., & Stalker, K. (2022). Social work skills for community practice: Applied macro social work. Springer Publishing Company.
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