Social Action for Community Change

Taught By:

Diane Bessel

Chair, Social Work & Sociology, MSW Program Director, & Associate Professor

Social Work & Sociology

Daemen University

Read profile here.

Motivation to Teach Social Action:

Integration of campaigns into course materials - have done this based on a case study in the past but interested in engaging students in live campaigns

Course Description:

This course focuses on the functional analysis of contemporary social welfare policies. It emphasizes the social, economic, political, governing, and cultural implications of major social welfare legislation as well as the linkage between social problems and policies, programs, and services. Students are also introduced to the legislative process and engage in projects to develop their advocacy skills.

More specifically, this course will provide students with a comprehensive view of the American welfare state with special emphasis on policies and programs directly affecting diverse, vulnerable populations. Students will be introduced to the historical and philosophical basis of American social welfare programs and the profession of social work. The course will also help students: (1) understand the content and precedents of the contemporary welfare state in terms of their underlying motivations and the extent of their impact on the subsequent social welfare institutions and social work; (2) become familiar with many of the basic social welfare programs pertaining to poverty, inequality, and income maintenance policy; housing and community development; civil rights; health and mental health; services for children and families; and crime and violence; (3) develop analysis skills to review and determine the effectiveness of these policies and programs; and (4) develop strategies to advocate for the continuation, revision, and/or further development of policies and programs.

Diane Bessel

Chair, Social Work & Sociology, MSW Program Director, & Associate Professor

Social Work & Sociology

Daemen University