This course focuses on the role and impact of oppression on diverse populations and service delivery systems. Through the examination of theoretical frameworks related to dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression, students will develop knowledge and skills to enhance their ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Emphasis is placed on learning anti-racist strategies to dismantle oppressive systems, use of clinical practice as a platform for advocacy efforts, and engagement and empowerment of client systems for diversity and equity inclusion at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

The course introduces students to two powerful systems creating policy around social welfare and mental health: the legislative and judicial systems. Information on the structure, composition, and function of these systems, along with various forces that influence them, such as lobbyists, activists, social movements, religious groups, and wealthy benefactors is provided. Case examples will demonstrate how the two systems work (independently and in partnership). Through case examples, students will learn how legislative and judicial decisions impact clinical social work practice and how social workers can impact legislative and judicial decisions.

In this course, students will learn how evidence-based practice and evidence-informed decision-making in clinical practice can improve the effectiveness, efficiency, credibility, and ethical adherence of interventions and programming. This course is intended to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in clinical research and program evaluation that informs service delivery, measures treatment progress, and can serve as the basis of organization funding. Students have the opportunity to apply research strategies in a clinical setting, including conceptualization, design, implementation, analysis, and reporting.

This course focuses on theories and skills for effective, ethical, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed practice with individuals. Clinical practice skills critical to the therapeutic process, including engagement, interviewing, termination, self-awareness, analytical inquiry, intersecting identities, and the therapeutic relationship will be examined.

This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes necessary to effectively and compassionately engage in clinical practice with trauma survivors and their families across the life span. The course begins with an overview of the types of trauma that can occur and its impact on the individual and family. Building off this foundation, the course covers the evidence-based and evidence-informed assessment and clinical treatment of trauma survivors and family members of trauma survivors. Considerations in the therapeutic relationship will also be addressed.