Human Behavior, Communities, Organizations and Groups in the Macro Social Environment: an Empowerment Approach
Karen K. Kirst-Ashman, Wadsworth Publishing Company
ISBN #: 0830415327
Course Description:
This course is an overview of the roles and functions of rehabilitation workers, such as job coaching, vocational skills assessment and case management. This course also explores a worker=s responsibilities regarding communication and involvement within the judicial system, the school system, or other stakeholders, and to entities such as employers and agencies. The importance for clients of maximum independence and reliance on community resources is examined in this class.
Course Objective:
Upon completion of this course the student will have an understanding of ways of thinking about how macro systems affect human behavior and the influences have implications for working with people within the community. This course will be looking at empowerment and strengths of communities, organizations and groups to promote change.
Course Purpose:
This course will look at the strengths and weakness found within communities and promoting change while advocating empowerment at the macro-mezzo levels. The case studies will enlighten you to some areas, problems and changes. It will allow you to look at your own community agencies/organizations and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses and evaluate their effectiveness.
Method: Case Management: Community Integration will include:
Reading assignments
Two (2) Written assignments (20 points each)
One-on-one e-mails with the Instructor
Two (2) exams - a midterm exam and a final exam (30 points each)
Grades: An accumulative of total points earned in this course.
A - 100 to 90 points
B - 89 to 80 points
C - 79 to 70 points
D - 69 to 60 points
F - 59 points or less
Assignments: All assignments are to be e-mailed to the instructor via Canyon College E-mail
Course Steps:
Order the appropriate textbook; contact Instructor.
Write the 1st Paper
Read the assignments prior to the Midterm exam..
Contact instructor the week before taking the Midterm exam to access exam.
Take the Midterm exam; continue with reading assignments
Complete reading assignment; send 2nd Paper to instructor
Notify instructor when you want to take the final at least one (1) week ahead for access to exam.
Take the final exam.
Please Note: My teaching "office hours" are on Tue., Wed., and Thur. evenings. I will answer all e-mails then. Do not get upset if you don't hear from me until the office hours. If I do log on at any other time I will answer any e-mails that are waiting. So if you take an exam over a weekend you will probably not have the results until the next office hours.
1st Paper: 20 points
Select two community agencies that would be involved in your specific area of study.
Write about each agency and include a brief history of the agency; the purpose of the agency; and list at least 3 strengths and 3 weakness for each agency. This should not be more than 2 pages for each agency for a total of 4 pages. (Long does not necessarily mean better). Use any format you choose. Keep a copy for your records. You will need it for paper #2. This is due by week 3 of this course.
2nd Paper: 20 points
Review your 1st paper. After you have read your reading assignments and case studies, write a brief paragraph on what you would change or make stronger from the strengths and weaknesses you listed in paper #1. How would this help or enable your clients and/or community? Design your own community agency or organization. Include : what service it would be; who would this community program serve; how would it be funded; describe roles of who would work there. Use examples and quotes from your text in this paper. Apply them to your own agency. Have fun! This paper should be no longer than a total of six pages.
Reading Assignments:
Week 1: Chapter 1 & 2
Week 2: Chapter 3 & 4
Week 3: Chapter 5 & 6
Week 4: Midterm exam 30 points and first paper due 20 points
Week 5: Chapter 7 & 8
Week 6: Chapter 9 & 10
Week 7: Chapter 11 & 12
Week 8: Final Exam 30 points and second paper due 20 points.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will be at the discretion of the instructor only.
