Columbia University School of Social Work
 
T7133 Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming I

Overview and Rationale

Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming (Practice, Programming, and Supervision) is a two-semester social work practice concentration, consisting of two required practice courses (T7133, T7134a & b) and a field of practice platform course. It educates and prepares second year social work students to become advanced social work practitioners who are sensitive to the concerns of people in need of assistance and experiencing difficulties in life functioning. Building on the practice competencies the students developed during their first year of graduate education, the primary aims of Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming are to help students: (1) develop the knowledge and skills essential for acquiring an holistic (ecological) understanding of the needs of their clients, agencies, and society, (2) move freely among multiple professional roles and functions, and (3) intervene at the individual, organization, and community levels of practice as dictated by their assessments, the resources available, and the requests of their clients.

Students learn to think and act as advanced generalist social work practitioners. Emphasis is placed on helping students to develop a conceptual framework of data informed systematic planning of interrelated interventions. This is accomplished by developing knowledge and skills to differentially assess the varied and interdependent needs of clients, organizations, and communities with an emphasis on social justice. Course focuses on advanced, integrated, and culturally responsive practice across multiple systems levels.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will learn to . . .

  1. Apply skills and knowledge for advanced direct practice, working with and across multiple system levels ranging from individual to global, and viewing assets, problems and solutions by:
     
    1. Identifying points of entry across systems.
    2. Identifying levels of intervention.
    3. Identifying commonalities in assessment, formulation, and planned change strategies across levels.
    4. Identifying and utilizing relational skills across system levels and settings, including within the task group.
    5. Conducting assessment of assets and needs across system levels.
    6. Collaborating with key community members to articulate assets and needs, using a social justice framework.
    7. Utilizing results of an assets and needs assessment to make hypotheses about possible planned change methods.
       
  2. Identify and apply appropriate anti-oppressive, culturally-relevant and evidence-based models and/or best practices guidelines in multiple system levels by:
     
    1. Informing practice with evidence-based and best practice guidelines.
    2. Identifying strengths and limitations of evidence-based and best practices for use across multiple populations and systems, taking into account relevant issues of power and privilege.
    3. Adapting evidence-based/best practices to meet specific population assets and needs.
    4. Incorporating evidence from a variety of sources into all interventions across system levels.
       
  3. Identify and analyze the ethical and value dilemmas associated with advanced generalist practice with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities whose interests may diverge both within and across systems.
  4. Conceptualize and conduct a cross-systems case formulation and beginning change plan ideas.
  5. Demonstrate the effective use of task groups in organizational and community contexts, including strategic use of self, managing in-group relationships including power dynamics and successful completion of task group projects.
  6. Express themselves both orally and in writing, as required for advanced generalist social work practice.
  7. Display professionalism and respect for instructor and peers in all aspects of this course.

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 . . .

  • Identify as professional social workers and conduct themselves accordingly.
  • Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
  • 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.
  • Respond to contexts that shape practice.
  • Engage individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Core Content Themes

  • The Conceptual Framework for Advanced Generalist Practice within a Community and Organizational Context.
     
    • Applying an eco-systems perspective to integrated, holistic social work practice and programming.
    • Introducing the reciprocal relationships among case, cause, and function.
    • The historical and current societal-cultural context of advanced generalist practice in areas of social and economic justice and with populations that are excluded or underserved.
       
  • Core Processes of Direct Practice in Advanced Generalist Practice
     
    • Review applications of differential assessment, problem definition, goal setting, intervention, practice monitoring, and evaluation in different sized systems and with diverse client populations.
    • Models of assessment and their links to client empowerment and intervention at multiple levels.
       
  • Community Practice: Effective Use of Case (Care) Management, Natural Helping Networks, Advocacy and Community Development
     
    • Models and strategies for case management, community intervention, social action, and community development.
    • Helping community groups gain power and influence.
       
  • Moving from Case to Cause: Problem Analysis and Needs Assessment
     
    • Conditions, problems and needs.
    • Conceptualization of need.
    • Approaches to needs assessment (focus groups, key informant interviews, surveys).
    • The impact of values, beliefs, and attitudes on problem definition and needs assessment and preliminary strategies for program development.
       
  • Task Group Formation and Leadership
     
    • Typologies of groups – similarities and differences between treatment groups, mutual aid groups, and professionally facilitated task groups.
    • Conceptions of group development and functioning, assessment of group effectiveness, promoting equity and fairness within groups.
    • Leadership styles and group roles, decision-making in groups, and task attainment.