STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy, concepts and principles of the strengths perspective

 II.     Demonstrate a beginning understanding of the problem solving approach from a strengths perspective

 III.    Communicate a beginning ability to apply the strengths approach to various client groups (individuals, families, communities)

 IV.     Construct a basic genogram and use it in the identification of family patterns and strengths

 V.      Conduct a social history and assessment to identify client strengths, barriers and goals

 VI.     Develop an initial action plan based on the social history

 VII.    Apply social work values and ethics in the helping relationship as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics

 VIII.   Demonstrate an awareness of and a sensitivity to issues related to diversity and spirituality as they impact the helping relationship

 IX.     Demonstrate a beginning awareness of supervisory and collegial relationships

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      The Helping Relationship

         A.      The Human Relations Counseling Model

                 1.      Assumptions and Implications

                 2.      Two stages

                 3.      Successful helping

                 4.      Who is the helper

                 5.      Skills

                 6.      Stages

                 7.      Topics and Values

         B.      Communication Skills

                 1.      Verbal and Non verbal messages

                 2.      Advanced verbal response skills

 II.     The Strengths Perspective

         A.      Power in the People

                 1.      Strengths Perspective

                 2.      Principles of Strengths Perspective

         B.      Practice from a Strengths Perspective

                         a.      The deficits

                         b.      Traditional Frames

                         c.      Shifting the traditional frame

         C.      Strengths of Indigenous Peoples

                 1.      Assimilation

                 2.      Sovereignty

                 3.      Advocacy and Reform

                 4.      Kinship and Resilience

         D.      The significance of Spirituality in response to chronic illness

                 1.      Understandings of faith, religion and spirituality

                 2.      Personal stories

                 3.      Implications for social work practice

 III.    Assessing Strength

         A.      Political activity

         B.      Strengths and empowerment

         C.      Resistance to oppression

         D.      Assessment Process

 IV.     Problem Solving

         A.      Strengths and Solutions

                 1.      Commonalities and Differences

                 2.      Problems

         B.      Solution focused practice

 V.      Enhancing Treatment in Substance Abuse

         A.      Case Management

         B.      Measuring the impact

         C.      Critical outcomes

         D.      Explaining the impact of CM

         E.      Case Manager-Client relationship

         F.      Strength Based Case Management ¿  A brief intervention

 VI.     The Strengths Model with Older Adults

         A.      Conceptual framework

         B.      Critical components

         C.      Integration of spiritual assessment and social work intervention

         D.      Policy application

         E.      Strengths model and long term care

         F.      Environment

 VII.    Person Centered Practice

         A.      Purpose and Principles

         B.      Strengths assessment and personal wellness Plan

 VIII.   Resilience of Families

         A.      Research

         B.      Environmental protective factors

                 1.      Role of parenting style

                 2.      Caring relationships

                 3.      Expectations

                 4.      Opportunities for participation

         C.      Family resilience

 IX.     Slave Narratives

         A.      The Organizations and the Movement

                 1.      Narratives and Commitment

                 2.      Political Consciousness

                 3.      Sustaining Participation

                 4.      Barriers to Participation

                 5.      Implications for Practice

 X       Community Development

 XI.     Power of the Place

 XII.    Emerging Ideas and Practices

 XIII.   Resilience

 XIV.    Exemplars of Community

 XV.     Development Practice

 XVI.    Programs

 XVII.   The Strengths Model and the Social Environment

         A.      Basic Assumptions

         B.      Environment defined

         C.      Enrichment and Development

         D.      Aligning Individual and Environmental Strengths

 XVIII.  The Strengths Perspective

         A.      Possibilities and Problems

         B.      Paradigms and prospects

 XIX.    Strengths Perspective and Theories

         A.      Phenomenological

         B.      Behavioral

         C.      Psychodynamic

         D.      Cognitive

         E.      Ecological