SW 557 - Clinical Prac w/ Imm. & Ref

Institution:

Simmons University

Subject:

Description:

Prerequisite: Social Work Practice (421 -semesters 1 & 2) The global and political debate about immigrants, immigration policy and the environmental context of some of the countries where Massachusetts?s new arrivals come will provide a setting for this course. The population of immigrants and refugees in the United States is growing rapidly. Many social workers practice in settings that serve immigrant and refugee clients. Practice with refugees and immigrants require specialized knowledge about the unique issues of these populations. It also requires specialized adaptations and applications of services and interventions that are grounded in multiculturally sensitive, flexible and when appropriate, community-based methods. This course will provide a comprehensive perspective of social work practice?a perspective that entails examination of the multiple factors that effect immigrants and refugees and relevant practice approaches. Students are expected to continue using a model of problem analysis developed by Freire that encompasses both personal and political aspects of change as an overarching framework for the course. In addition students will learn a conceptual framework of the stages of migration. The framework enables students to examine the interrelationship between the sending and receiving countries and to examine the experiences of individuals in their home countries with their experiences in the new country. The course draws on multiple theoretical perspectives including empowerment, ecological, psychodynamic and systemic approaches to practice. Knowledge from political science and history, for example, facilitates an understanding of the influence of immigration policy on the lives of immigrants. Concepts drawn from psychology, sociology, and psychiatry, such as stress, life transitions, social networks, trans-nationalism, resilience, post-traumatic stress disorder, explain (in part) aspects of the migration experience. We will also consider concepts from anthropology, different cultural views of health, mental health, help-seeking behavior, family, and child-rearing practice, and gender role behavior. This course meets the requirement for a clinical practice elective. Revised 4/17/07 6

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.simmons.edu

Phone Number:

(617) 521-2000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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