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(SOCW 463) Child Welfare

Acquaint students with the role of the generalist social work practitioner in child welfare, public and not-for-profit programs that provide services to children, and social problems that impact children.

Credit Hours 3.0 Lecture
Prerequisites SOCW 362, admission to major
Offered Fall, Winter
Programs Social Work (BSW)

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Students will be able to articulate the basic needs of all children, regardless of demographics.
  2. Students will be able to identify demographic factors that correlate with child maltreatment and will be able to hypothesize how the two are related.
  3. Students will be able to discuss programs aimed at preventing the occurrence of child maltreatment.
  4. Students will be able to explain the child protective services process from intake to closure.
  5. Students will be able to discuss the juvenile court process in the United States, including the procedures related to child protective services and juvenile delinquency.
  6. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of judges, attorneys, child advocates, Child Protective Services workers, and parents within the juvenile court system in child welfare cases.
  7. Students will be able to articulate an understanding of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the reasons why the law was enacted.
  8. Students will be able to explain the family preservation program and how it aims to keep families together even though child abuse or neglect has occurred.
  9. Students will be able to discuss the foster care and adoption programs in the United States, including laws and policies related to these programs.
  10. Students will be able to articulate a greater understanding of the plight of children who are removed from their homes, of parents who have had children removed, and of Child Protective Services workers charged with ensuring the safety of children and the continuity of the family.