Columbia University School of Social Work
 
T6920 Family, Youth and Children's Services: Issues, Policies, Research and Programs

Overview and Rationale

This course examines the complex policies and programs through which services are delivered to children, youth, and families. It is designed to provide a foundation for practice in the field of family, youth, and children’s services. Although this is not a course that deals with practice skills, it is oriented to the practice issues that students confront in their field placements and can anticipate addressing in their future careers. The goal is to help students understand the connections between policies, programs, and practice.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will learn to . . .

  1. Identify the target populations of family, youth and children's services and describe the economic status, service needs and current service delivery to families and children.
  2. Describe selected types of family, youth, and child service programs, including target population, auspices, access, eligibility and coverage, objectives, service strategy, impact and limitations.
  3. Describe the major research findings in this field of practice.
  4. Analyze the historical responses to providing help to these populations as well as the evolution of social services programs and the current state of available services and service delivery.
  5. Examine current issues, trends, and debates in this field of practice.
  6. Identify, assess and critique current modes of intervention and identify which are appropriate under what circumstances.
  7. Analyze policies, programs and service dilemmas in this field of practice.

Council on Social Work Education Core Competencies

This course contributes toward mastery of the following core areas of social work competency identified by the Council on Social Work Education.

Social workers . . .

  • Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
  • Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
  • Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being, and to deliver effective social work services.
  • Respond to contexts that shape practice.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Core Content Themes

  • Field of Practice Concept
     
    • Linking Policy and Practice
       
  • Impact on Families of Demographic and Social Change
     
    • Situation of Children, Youth and Families Today
    • Ethnic and Economic Differences and Trends
       
  • The Changing Context for Service Provision
     
    • Historical Development of Field of Practice
    • Major Laws and Funding Streams
       
  • Policy and Programming Issues in Core Service Systems
     
    • Family Support and Child Care Services
    • Family Preservation/Prevention Services
    • Services for Abused and Neglected Children
    • Foster Care and Adoption: Permanency Planning Issues
    • Youth Services
       
  • Current Trends and Proposals for Reform