Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I teach diverse individuals and families in the societal context and a values and ethics course at a small, rural university within a strong conservative religious community. I want to implement more learning objectives around enacting social change.
Course Description:
SW 3370: This course examines the intersection of gender, class, race, ethnicity, and other variables-including sexual orientation, gender identity, geographic location (rural, urban), and household composition (single-parent, nuclear, same-sex)-and the impact they have on the lived experience of diverse individuals and families. The goal is to broaden our understanding of family life, and the diversity in how we "do" family as it operates within macro-level forces within society's social systems and institutions (e.g. work, education, health care, the state) that privilege some while hindering others in their ability to function and thrive. The course concludes with an examination of the ways in which we can work toward social change and justice for all through compassion, reflexivity, introspection, and social change agency
SW 3350: This course takes an in-depth look at the values and ethics that helping professionals need to utilize in order to provide safe and effective services without harming clients. It also provides an opportunity to practice applying values and ethics so that by the end of the course, course participants are prepared to begin applying the concepts in a professional setting.
Taught By:
Chelsea Gambles
Assistant Professor
Social Work
Southern Utah University
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