School of Social Work

Challenging Minds, Leading Change, Transforming Lives

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE METHOD III:

SW 4010 (3 credit hours)
Instructor:
Day:
Location:
Room:

Cassandra Barragan'MSW
Wednesdays 3:15 pm -6 pm
University Center
TBD

Email: ec0676(g),wayne.edu
Phone: 218.790.1378 (phone & text)
Office Hours: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The third course providing knowledge skills and a framework for social work practice related to
groups; knowledge and theories related to groups
COURSE COMPETENCIES AND PRACTICE BEHAVIORS FOR THIS COURSE
2.1.1 Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly
Practice Behaviors:
Advocate for the client access to the services of social -work; practice personal reflection and
self-correction to assure continual professional development; attend to professional roles and
boundaries; demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance and communication;
engage in Career long learning; use supervision and consultation
2.1.2 Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
Practice Behaviors:
Recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice
make ethical decisions by applying standards of the NASW Code of Ethics; tolerate ambiguity
in resolving conflicts; apply concepts of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions
2.1.3 Apply critical thinkiag to inform and communicate professional judgments
Practice Behaviors:
Distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge, including research based
knowledge, and practice wisdom; analyze models of assessment, prevention, intervention and
evaluation; demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals,
families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues
2.1.10 Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups,
organizations and communities
Practice Behaviors:
(a) Engagement:

Substantively and affectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations
and communities; use empathy and other interpersonal skills; Develop a mutually agreed-on
focus of work and desired outcomes
(b) Assessment
Collect, organize, and interpret client data; assess client strengths and limitation
develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives ; select appropriate intervention
strategies
( c) Intervention
Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals; implement prevention interventions that
enhance client capacities; help clients resolve problems; negotiate, mediate, and advocate for
clients; facilitate transitions and endings
(d) Evaluation
Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions

TEXT AND REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Toseland Ronald., & Rivas, Robert.(2013). An introduction to Group Work Practice. (7th
ed.).Needham Heights, MA: Allyn/Bacon.
Required Reading: Shulman, Lawrence, (2009). The Skills of Helping Individuals, Families,
Groups, and Communities (6* ed.). Itasca, ILL: Peacock Publishing, (chapters identified
in syllabus).
Hepworth, D., Rooney, R., Rooney, G., Gottfried, K., Larson,}. (2010). Direct social Work
Practice: Theory and Skills. (8th ed.) Belmont, CA: Thompson/ Brooks Cole (chapters
identified in syllabus.

INTRODUCTION:
The course is a continuation of four-course sequence. It builds upon the knowledge, skills and
values learned in prior courses within this sequence. Utilization of systems and problem-solving
approaches to plan for and apply appropriate social work intervention with emphasis on the utility
of groups in practice at all systems levels, e.g. macro
A major focus of SW4010 is on the development and utilization of communication, relationships
and group membership skills. Students will become familiar with planning group, clarifying a group
purpose, and assessing process and outcome. This course emphasizes a laboratory approach which
will provide the student an opportunity to develop skills in facilitating groups in micro and macro
practice necessary for generalist social work practice.
The concepts, theories principles, methods and skills relevant to group work with diverse
populations will be explored in this course. The application of group work methods with
populations-at-risk will also be examined in this course.
This course incorporates content on types of groups, group development, problem-solving and
decision making in groups. It also explores the interaction between groups and systems with their
external environment

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
All students are expected to participate fully in the learning experience through readings, discussions,
role play and exercises.