Introduction To Social Services
Sacramento City College
Sociology 380 3 Units
Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor:
Pam Flaherty
Phone 650-2940
Dept. Office Phone: 558-2401
Mail Box in RN 226
Office (RS282) Hours by Appointment and T/TH Noon and M/W 1pm
E-Mail Address: flaherp@scc.losrios.edu
Class meets in RM RS273
Text:
1. The Self-Awareness Workbook for Social Workers by Juliet C. Rothman (referred
to as "SAW" in the syllabus)
2. The Working Poor by David Shipler (referred to as WP in syllabus.)
3. When the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (SP) by Ann Fadiman
Goals:
1) To understand the social, political, historical, ethical and economic issues that can
affect social services, with special attention to economic challenges.
2) To review social service helping agency systems, including government, profit,
nonprofit and charitable organizations.
3) To become familiar with social service agencies in the Sacramento area.
4) To consider the roles and boundaries of a social service worker.
5) To become familiar with contemporary helping strategies and resource
development.
6) To explore social services as an occupation at both the paraprofessional level and as
part of a career ladder.
Grades:
Homework Exercises (10pt.s X 8 exercises)
Class participation (including pop quizzes)
Final Exam
Agency Research and presentation
Agency Evaluation Portfolio
Service Learning (Extra Credit)
80 points
100 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
30 points
Total # of Points
360 (approx.)
As a percent of total points grades will be calculated as below:
90%-100%= A, 80%-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D,
Below 60%=F
Class Participation and Assignments: Students will receive in-class credit for class activities and be
required to do homework activities as assigned. There will be eight self-awareness exercises required..
Due dates are on the syllabus. Please write your name on all pages. You may either tear assignments
out of your book along the perforated edge or copy the pages. The books are not returnable. When the
assignments are returned to you, save them in a folder.
Guest Speakers will be invited and syllabus topics and assignments will be adjusted
accordingly. The instructor will announce changes to the syllabus.
Attendance: After three unexcused absences you will be dropped from the course unless you have
made arrangements with the instructor prior to being absent.. A seating chart will be used. Unexcused
absences will severely affect your grade. This is a hands-on class. Late students will be docked 5 pt.s
for each day that they are late. Excused absences require a Dr's excuse, counselor's note etc. Report
excused absences before the class missed (by phone at 650-2940.) It is your responsibility to get notes
and assignments for missed classes. The instructor is available during office hours and after class
only, for these purposes.
Tardiness: A seating chart will be used. If you are late, please enter the classroom as unobtrusively
as possible and sit in the late seat designated area. You will lose 5 points for tardiness after attendance
is taken.. Missed assignments and activities due to tardiness will be treated as though you were
absent.
Service Learning Extra Credit: We will be producing a holiday resource guide for the Sacramento
community. This will be an exercise in resource development and Service- Learning. The process and
resource format will be presented by the instructor in class. There will be a limit of five students
assigned to this Service-Learning project. If you wish to add Service-Learning you may also propose
the development of other community resources.
In addition students who do Service-Learning will be able to add a special Service-Learning unit to
this course. Student participation in Service-learning will be noted on transcripts and many students
find this valuable for employment resumes, particularly working in the human service sector.
Service-Learning information and registration materials will be available the second day of
class.
Exams: There will be open book pop quizzes on the reading material and one take-home Final Exam.
The Final Exam will be given one week prior to the exam and students will submit the exam during
the regularly scheduled final exam period.
Agency Presentation/Class Evaluation
Each student will select a social services organization and make a 15 minute presentation to the class.
You will not be required to turn in anything written (unless you use a guest speaker.) It is suggested
that you conduct an informational interview with an administrator of the agency. Presentation dates
will be assigned the second week in class.
The instructor must pre-approve agencies. You may be as creative as you like; handouts, brochures,
etc. You may invite a pre-approved (by instructor) guest speaker but you will still be responsible to
know the information required below. If you use a guest speaker you will be required to turn in a onepage summary covering the information below. Guest speakers are contingent on having class time
available and are limited to 30 minute presentations. Because of time constraints it is advised that you
schedule your presentation early. The following topics should be addressed in your presentations:
a) Agency purpose and history
b) Description of services
c) Client eligibility requirements
d) Your evaluation of the agency's strengths and weaknesses
e) Kinds of jobs available and employee qualifications required.
Agency presentations will be scheduled during the first three weeks of class for dates throughout the
semester.
Agency Evaluation Portfolio: Students will evaluate all agency presentations according to an
evaluation format distributed by the instructor and similar to the above description of the agency
presentation evaluation. Students should keep their evaluations, brochures and handouts regarding
agency presentations in the portfolio. The portfolios will be graded in class periodically and during
the Final Exam period.
Course Policies:
1) All Self-Awareness workbook assignments (written in bold at the top of each week's topics) are
due at the beginning of the first day of class for that week, as noted on syllabus. A grading rubric will
be used with an indication (not graded) of how you are doing regarding grammar and legibility.
2) Bring your syllabus to class daily to note changes and additional assignments. If you are absent it
is your responsibility to find our about any syllabus changes.
.
Topic Outline
Reading assignments need to be completed before class. Each reading assignment is in bold before the
weeks' activities. Students will be responsible for discussing the guide questions and novel
readings that are assigned at the beginning of class.
Week 1
8/26
Week 2
9/2
Week 3
9/9
Week 4
9/16
Week 5
9/23
Week 6
9/30
Week 7
10/7
What are Social Services?
Course requirements and project assignments
What do social service workers do?
Social Service Jobs: Paraprofessional and Career Ladders (a brief overview)
Dynamics of initial meetings- "Predictions"
Self-Awareness and Social Services
SAW Exercise 1 (page 9) Due 9/4
Read WP Pages 3-38 Due 9/9
(Above continued)
Perception: "What You See Is Not"
Types of Social Services Organizations
Sociological Imagination: How biography affects life chances.
Service Learning Class Assignment presented
SAW, Chapter Exercise 2 Due 9/11
Read WP Pages 39-76 Due 9/16
History of Social Services in America
Film: Legacies of Social Change
Activity: Know yourself as a Helper
Historical Values and Human Services
Activity: Barriers to Help
SAW Chapter Exercise 3 Due 9/18
Read WP Pages 77-120 Due 9/23
Understanding the dynamics of poverty
Demographics of wealth and income in America
Resources for working with people living in poverty
Generational vs. situational poverty
Rural vs. urban poverty
Hidden rules of social class
"People Like Us" film
Life chances; poverty and children
Poverty, culture, addiction treatment and recovery
SAW Exercise 4 Due 9/25
Read WP Pages 121-173Due 9/30
Poverty continued, Film: Visions
SAW Exercise CH 5 Due 10/2
Read WP Pages 174-230 due 10/7
Poverty continued
Activity: Life Chances
SAW Exercise CH6 due 10/9
Read WP 174-230 Due 10/14
Organizational Structure of Social Services
Government Institutions: Federal, State, County, City
For-Profit Corporations
Week 8
10/14
Week 9
10/21
Week 10
10/28
Week 11
11/4
Week 12
11/11
Week 13
11/18
Week 14
11/25
Week 15
12/2
Nonprofit Organizations
Activity: Human Services Literacy
SAW Exercise Ch 7 Due 10/16
Read WP Pages 231-284 10/21
Ecological Life Matrix Model
Resource mapping and communities
Volunteer and social action movements
Activity: Evaluating Social Service Programs
SAW Exercise Ch 8 Due 10/23 (Unit 11 summary is NOT assigned)
Read WP Pages 285-309 Due 10/28
Multicultural Populations , Communication
Activity: Diversity simulation, white privilege
Legal Issues in Human Services
Legal Issues: right to adequate treatment; right to least restrictive setting; right to refuse
treatment; documentation
The Law as a Resource and as a Restriction
What Every Worker Needs to Know
Confidentiality, Privileged Communication
Privacy, Mandatory Reporting
Read SP Pages 1-37 Due 11/11
Values and Ethical Dilemmas
Professional Choices--Film
Read SP Pages 38-92 Due 11/18
Special Populations:
Adults who are older
Persons who are disabled
Children placed out-of-home
Read SP Pages 93-180 Due 11/25
Special Populations and Services (continued)
Persons who are mentally ill
Persons who have drug and alcohol addictions
Activity: Virtual Client
Read SP Pages181-249 Due 12/2
(above continued)
Holiday Break 11/27-30
Read SP Pages 250-278 Due 12/9
Final Agency Presentations/ Wrap-up Class and Service Learning Project Due
Week 16
12/9
When The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down --Open Book Quiz
Case Management
Staying Current and Avoiding Burnout
Activity: Create a Human Service Program
Week 17
12/16
Final Exam Tuesday, December 16th 12:45pm