SSE 285 - Foundations of Social Work Practice

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

Theoretical foundation and skill base for effective culturally competent communication and interviewing with individuals, families, small groups, and larger systems. Includes framework for multicultural understanding and social work practice, interpersonal communication in professional helping relationships, major helping and developmental theories, and personal and professional development.

Prerequisite(s): SSE 110  
Recommendation: Completion of SSE 281  before enrolling in this course, or concurrent enrollment. If any recommended course is taken, see a financial aid or Veteran’s Affairs advisor to determine funding eligibility as appropriate.

2. Practice basic level interviewing skills in the context of a helping relationship, including professional

 demeanor, effective oral communication, and the use of empathy in engaging and working with individuals.   (CSWE Competencies 1, 2 and 6)

4. Practice ability to use a basic problem solving process to explore and resolve a problem or issue.

(CSWE Competencies 7, 8 and 9)

1. Demonstrate the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection by examining, and discussing the implications of, personal and cultural values, beliefs, and biases, and their impact on generalist social work/social services practice.
2. Demonstrate the concepts of culture and its impact on human behavior, with an awareness of the strengths that exist in all cultures and the importance of valuing human diversity in all its form, particularly in the social work/social services context.
3. Describe the basic components of helping relationships and how they differ from other relationships.
4. Explain the strengths of ethnographic interviewing, and barriers to an effective cross-cultural interview, in a professional helper context.
5. Demonstrate the process of trust building using naturalistic inquiry and the naturalistic paradigm.
6. Demonstrate skilled listening and of basic communication processes with persons of similar and diverse backgrounds.
7. Explain the value base and ethics of the social work/social services professions, and their implications for practice with diverse clients.
8. Explain the roles of both culture and social work/social services in the helping and change process, and the role of the social worker as a change agent.
9. Articulate the quality and characteristics of an effective helper.
10. Demonstrate basic level interviewing skills in the context of a helping relationship.
11. Identify major theories of human behavior and various strategies for helping, including a basic problem solving process.

1. Framework for Multicultural Understanding and Social Work Practice
   1. Value base of social work professions with a focus on diversity and practice skills
   2. Ethics and other professional responsibilities
   3. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
   4. Culture and its impact on human behavior
   5. Cultural competency
   6. Strengths perspective and empowerment model of human behavior
   7. Methods of helping and healing within ethnic, cultural and racial groups
   8. Case management – assessing, planning, linking, and monitoring
   9. Micro-mezzo-macro levels of practice
2. Interpersonal Communication in Professional Helping Relationships
   1. Examining attitudes and perceptions
   2. Barriers to effective communication
   3. Active listening and empathy
   4. Motivation and resistance
   5. Verbal and nonverbal communication
   6. Ethnographic interviewing
   7. Creating an effective helping relationship
   8. Establishing trust
   9. The change process and the social work role in a multicultural context
   10. Cross-cultural communication
3. Major Helping and Developmental Theories
   1. Generalist social work practice
   2. Helping theories and strategies
   3. Ecological model
   4. Multicultural models
4. Personal and Professional Development
   1. Developing self-awareness and self-reflection
   2. Understanding cultural assumptions and value differences
   3. Understanding the implications of one’s values and beliefs in the helping relationship
   4. Professional self-development
   5. Compassion and professional boundaries
   6. Social worker self-care