Mar 29, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate


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mscd.edu/socialwork

The Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion provides knowledge and understanding of family systems theory and family life developmental models. It provides the basis for supporting traditional and non-traditional families, including case management and service coordination in a variety of service delivery areas. An approved agency field experience of 150 hours is required and may be completed in the student’s work setting or as a volunteer.

The minor recognizes the completion of a selected set of courses that focus on a particular career concentration that supports families through social work principles and practices. It is designed for professionals and beginning professionals wishing to enter the field or to enhance their family social work support skills.

The Family Support in Social Work Certificate of Completion is the same as the Family Support in Social Work Minor but does not require that students complete a degree. All information about the Family Support in Social Work Minor applies to the certificate of completion. Students must complete each course in the certificate program with a grade of “C” or better. The courses cannot be taken pass/fail.

The minor students are referred to as beginning professionals. (Social work majors are referred to as generalist social workers.) The knowledge and skills of minor students will enable them to perform important agency roles such as case aides, paraprofessionals, service coordinators, parent educators, parent advocates, home visitation specialists, and others. These courses are open to other Metro State minors, majors and non-degree-seeking students wishing to supplement their education.

In addition to completing the required courses listed below, minors must select one concentration and complete the concentration course(s) including SWK 3999 - Social Work and Service Learning in an agency serving the concentration population. Minors may declare only one concentration.

Concentrations are:

  1. Family Preservation Services
  2. Developmental Disabilities Services
  3. Early Intervention Services: Birth through Five
  4. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
  5. Gay and Lesbian Services
  6. Women’s Services
  7. Aging Services

Enrollment and Completion Requirements for Family Support in Social Work

Minor and Certificate of Completion Program

All minor and certificate students must submit an enrollment packet to the Social Work Department prior to course registration. Students will receive written acceptance from the Social Work Department. Many certificate minor courses are offered annually. SWK 1010 and SWK 1020 are required within the first semester and students are required to sign an agreement of completion form when enrolling in the program to ensure appropriate sequencing of classes. Completion models and enrollment materials are available in the Social Work Department and on the department’s website: mscd.edu/socialwork

Students must complete each course in the certificate program with a grade of “C” or better. The courses cannot be taken pass/fail.

All minor students must receive course grades of “C” or better and must have a grade point average of 2.5 or above in the courses that compose the Family Support in Social Work minor to successfully complete it.

 

Concentrations for Family Support in Social Work Minors


In addition to completing the core required courses listed above, students must select a concentration in one of the following areas.

A. Family Preservation Concentration


Family preservation philosophy and practice offers support to families in the child welfare system. Family support workers provide in-home services for traditional and non-traditional families. Populations that may require specialized services will be discussed, including parents with developmental disabilities and children with behavior problems.

Total Credits Required for Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

Additional Information:


Case Aid Child Welfare stipends provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services have been awarded since 2000 to current public child welfare employees who are enrolled in the Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion Program. Stipends are awarded to selected recipients who are required to complete SWK 3999 - Social Work and Service Learning in public child welfare agencies. A required work pay-back of one year as a paid worker in public child welfare must be completed following completion of the Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion Program.

B. Developmental Disabilities Concentration


Families with children and/or parents with developmental disabilities are often in need of ongoing family supports. Family support, family-centered service planning and coordination are needed as families negotiate a complex and fragmented service delivery system. This career concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of developmental disabilities services.

Total Credits Required for Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

C. Early Intervention Concentration


This concentration recognizes the importance of providing, safe, nurturing and stimulating environments during the early, crucial phases of child development from birth through five years of age and the key role social workers have in assisting families in achieving these goals. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of infant stimulation, early intervention and early education services. 

Total Credits Required for Social Work Minor: 24


D. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concentration


Social workers often support families and provide services to children and adolescents with an array of emotional and behavioral problems. Mental health policies and practices including assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation of mental health services for children and their families will be presented from a social work perspective. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of mental health services for children and adolescents.

Total Credits Required for the Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

E. Gender and Sexuality Concentration


Gender and sexual minorities, families, and groups face many challenges in today’s society. The strengths, stresses and lifestyle choices of this population at risk and the role of social workers with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities are the major themes of this area. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in gender and sexual minority health, mental health and community services.

Total Credits Required for Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

F. Women Concentration


In today’s society, there is an increasing awareness of the need for specialized generalist social work training and commitment to assisting women in overcoming barriers, identifying strengths and supporting goal attainment in a patriarchal society. Social policies and common issues facing women today are explored. Current social work strategies are evaluated from a feminist social work perspective. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of women’s health, mental health and welfare services.

Total Credits Required for Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

G. Aging Concentration


Social workers provide a variety of supports and services to elderly individuals and their families. Individual needs, strengths, family supports, use of community resources and knowledge of social policies that impact this population are the major themes. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in aging, health, mental health, home health, and long term care services.

Total Credits Required for the Social Work Minor: 24


Note:


*Major papers and/or assignments will reflect students’ area of concentration

Social Work Departmental Policies and Procedures


Changing from the Social Work Minor or Certificate to the Social Work Major

Family Support in Social Work Minors and Certificate of Completion students who wish to continue into the social work major may count 13 of the 24 required credits courses toward the major: SWK 1010, SWK 1020, SWK 3000, SWK 3020, and the concentration course(s). The remaining 11 credits would count toward the 120 credits required of all students graduating from Metro State.

Changing from the Social Work Major to the Family Support in Social Work Minor
Social Work majors who are not successful in the major for reasons such as, but not limited to: failing out of the program, being fired from a field placement, being denied from the program, or being counseled out of the program, etc, will no longer be accepted into the Social Work Minor/Certificate Program.

Credit for Life Experience

There is no credit given for college level learning gained through life experience that may be used toward the social work minor.

A Grade of “D” or “F” in a Social Work Course

A student receiving a grade of “D” or “F” must see their social work advisor immediately to discuss their plan for improving their grade. Students must receive a C or better in all social work courses. Students are allowed to repeat a social work course once. Students who fail to obtain a C or better after two attempts will automatically be terminated from the Social Work Department.

Departmental Student Listserv

At time of enrollment into the Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion students are added to the student listserv with their MetroConnect Metro State email account. It is your responsibility to ask for assistance if you notice you are not receiving these emails and to contact the Metro State helpdesk if you are having technical problems accessing your email.

Criminal Background

A student who has a criminal record should be aware that he/she may not be able to obtain a field placement.

MetroConnect

MetroConnect email is the official means of communication at Metro State and within the Social Work Department. Students are responsible for the information sent to their Metro State email account.

Computer Technology Requirements

Social Work Department website: mscd.edu/socialwork

The Social Work Department values computer technology for the enhancement and delivery of its courses. This will require student ability to utilize computer-mediated courses, databases, assignments, and interaction with peers and instructors.

Therefore,
1. As a student at Metropolitan State College of Denver, you will have an opportunity to explore the use of information technology in our ever-changing world. Each student has a free email account with the college. Social Work students are required to activate their Metro State email accounts and provide the email address to the student list serve at the time of application into the certificate minor.

2. Distance education course opportunities are available. The social work department has developed courses for delivery online and/or videobroadcast. Please contact the department for more specific details regarding course availability and structure. Distance education courses require a different set of skills and role demands for the learner. Students in online courses become seekers of knowledge, not just receptacles. The “luxury” of lectures is replaced with the student’s own effort to make logical connections, interpret facts, devise arguments, and synthesize knowledge. Distance education learners will write more often, which can be more challenging than oral discussion. In addition, students will need organization, time management, and intrinsic motivation to progress through courses.

Department of Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior

The Department of Social Work at the Metropolitan State College of Denver is mandated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to foster and evaluate professional behavioral development for all students in the social work program. The Department of Social Work also bears a responsibility to the community at large to produce fully trained professional social workers who consciously exhibit the competencies, values, and skills of the profession of social work. The values of the profession are codified in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education has ten core educational competencies that social workers must master. Given this context, the Social work Department has identified behaviors for the social work student to exhibit in the classroom, the online classroom, field placement, in the Social Work office, through email/phone conversations, and any other interaction in a professional/academic setting. This document does not include the complete NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies, however it highlights particular ethics and competencies to serve as a framework of professional and ethical behaviors to abide by while a social work student at Metro State. Other aspects of the NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies are evaluated academically throughout the program’s curriculum. All students in any social work course will adhere to the Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior as indicated in each course syllabi. Visit www.mscd.edu/socialwork for a full version of the document.

Attendance Policy Values Statement

The Metropolitan State College of Denver’s (Metro State’s) Social Work Department adheres to the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. In abiding by the standards of the national governing body, CSWE, the Metro State Social Work Department provides students and the surrounding communities a measure of confidence regarding competent, well-prepared professional social workers at the undergraduate level.
In addition to presentation of course content such as concepts and theories, social work education provides socialization into the profession-the development of an identity as a social work professional. Therefore, classroom sessions meet several learning objectives through the use of lecture, text review, guest speakers, interactive exercises, and student discussion. In order to ensure optimal development of professional identity, classroom attendance is vital. There is no substitute for transactions in the classroom among peers. Discussion includes the negotiation and consensus of terms (i.e., the language of the profession), values, provision of new insights and interpretations, and enhancement of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Most importantly, students learn from colleagues; absenteeism creates the void of missing voices.

While there are other opportunities for socialization into the profession (Student Association of Social Workers membership and involvement, participation in the department list serve, faculty advising), the most consistent occasion resides in the interaction among students in the classroom with the instructor serving as facilitator.

All students in any social work course will adhere to the Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior as indicated in each course syllabi. Visit mscd.edu/socialwork  for a full version of the document.

Social Work Department Late Paper Policy

Papers/assignments should be turned in at the beginning of the class session for which they are due. Late papers will lose one grade (i.e., an “A” paper can only earn a “B,” a “B” paper will earn a “C,” etc.). Students are responsible for letting the instructor know if papers will be late. Papers that are more than one week late will not be accepted, unless a revised due date was previously negotiated with the instructor. Documented emergencies are exceptions to this policy. If there is a late paper policy on your syllabus, that policy takes precedence over this statement.

Social Work APA Policy

All written communication in the classroom environment (online and on campus) will be in American Psychological Association (APA). Students must follow course syllabus for information on which APA edition format to employ.

Advising Appointments

Call (303) 556-3474 to set up Social Work advising appointments:

• If you are interested in the certificate of completion or thinking about doing social work as your minor, please make an appointment to see the certificate minor coordinator for advising.
• If you are seeking career advising, please make an appointment with any of the faculty members.
 

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