Students who successfully complete the courses in this track will be competent to serve large groups of people, communities and even an entire nation. Their competence in this area of social work aligns with a significant focus of the profession. They will be able to work in positions that influence large number of citizens and be useful to cities or state departments that are concerned with the status of their population or in need of specialized research into specific issues. Students will be equipped to enter the field of social work with the ability to impact large groups of people rather than just individuals.
The curriculum in this track is designed to highlight community progress toward sustainable wellbeing. It emphasizes community development and teaches students how to work for the greater good within a designated geographic area. Key components that are covered in this track include statistics review, programme development, and progress observation. Students enrolled in this track will be able to discern the correlation between the stages and improvement process toward community wellbeing. Students will learn how to generate participatory energy that makes residents feel integrated and empowered. They will learn how to bring out the best in large groups of people, inspiring and empowering them to do more for themselves and those around them to experience long-lasting and sustainable community improvement. They will also learn how to empower the residents of communities to take collective action that generate solutions to common problems. In working together to improve the quality of their lives, these residents also address the socioeconomic barriers that often lead to poverty, crime, poor health, low property values, and underperforming schools.
Competent community social workers are equipped to plan and administer programs designed to help people with their immediate needs as well as those with more enduring benefits to the larger community. They assume the following roles, working for social services agencies, nonprofits, and grassroots organizations:
- Caseworker, assessing and addressing the needs of individuals and families who constitute the larger community being served.
- Community Organizer, rallying the community around various social issues and helps to align the community’s resources and energies to address their most pressing needs.
- Project Manager, assuming the role to ensure that programs are implemented correctly and within their original scope.
- Researcher, determining the root causes of a community’s challenges. They use this research to help develop community programmes and advocate for policy changes to improve the life chances of the individuals and families being served.
As facilitators, organizers, counselors, and advocates, community social workers have an important voice in helping communities overcome the barriers to desired social change. They also provide the energy for transformation — empowering residents with the knowledge, resources, and capacity to self-direct and self-govern their lives and circumstances.
They measure and gauge the success of their efforts to develop community health by looking at the statistics in the following categories:
- Health Issues: Birth weight, immunizations, prenatal care, and senior care.
- Economic Concerns: Poverty, unemployment, job availability, and cost of living.
- School Success: Dropout/graduation rates, student mobility, and academic standings.
- Family Concerns: Preschool participation, and percentages of adolescent parents.
If you want to strengthen communities, empower people to change their lives, and make a positive impact on the world, explore a career in social work with an emphasis on community development.
International Social Development (3 credits)
This course examines the history and context of international social development. It explores the significance of globalization and how to engage diverse public and non-governmental organizations. Special attention is given to African and Caribbean countries. The social and economic justice implications of international social development are also discussed, along with human rights and the unique experiences of women in the global context.
Women, Power and Change in Social Work Practice (3 credits)
This course provides students with an in-depth exposure to the status and plight of women in society and within the social work profession. It enhances the student’s knowledge and understanding of women’s issues in relation to changing roles, sexism, racism, and empowerment from a global perspective. It also explores historical and contemporary issues that inform society’s view of women and the adverse effect of such view on the lives of women.
Social Work Approach to Substance Use and Abuse (3 credits)
This course provides students with an understanding of the widespread use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD). It explores the dynamics of addictions as they are manifested at the individual, family, group and community levels. Current theories of addiction are explored along with strengths-based methods of assessment, prevention, and intervention. The course will review the historical, biopsychosocial, and legal implications of drug abuse, including the controversial link between addiction and criminalization in certain communities. The impact of drug policies on oppressed groups and high-risk populations are examined within the context of empowerment, social justice and relevant concepts.
Environmental Justice and Community Health (3 credits)
This course integrates a multi-disciplinary approach to issues related to environmental justice with social work research and practice. Emphasis is given to such issues as sources of environmental pollutants, and threats from environmental hazards to health and well-being. The course also provides a review of case studies that highlight public policies, practice and other factors that create environmental disparities including discriminatory land use and residential patterns.
Community Organization and Social Work Practice (3 credits)
This course assumes a systems approach to human services organizations and community organizing. It examines a range of historical and contemporary models of community organization practice methods, values, ethics, and skills related to organizational leadership styles and roles of social works in Macro practice, administrative practice theories, assessment and supervision. It emphasizes strategies and tactics for empowering groups and organizations through planned change to promote social and economic justice. It also examines multilevel needs and strengths of diverse peoples, organizations, and communities. It highlights conceptual and practice models and case studies to understand the use of relationships with external connections and environments. It highlights organizational culture, behaviour, climate, reward systems, infrastructure and effectiveness. Students will be oriented to organizational development strategies and techniques to bring about planned change. Students will understand power and influence in Macro social work practice. (Concurrent enrollment in Field Education II required).
Human Services Administration (3 credits)
This course provides students with knowledge of the history, theoretical frameworks, functions and skills for managing human service organizations and leading culturally diverse community groups, boards, and committee meetings.
It examines staff development, the role of social work supervision, collaboration and partnership development, team building, group decision-making, problem-solving strategies and use of technology in administration. It also emphasizes social planning and budgeting processes for nonprofit organizations. (Concurrent enrollment in Field Education III)