Fall 2024 Seated and Hybrid Electives

This foundational course examines historic and contemporary anti-Black racism and white supremacy in the United States. Students will analyze policies and strategies to identify, challenge, and transform the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism, white supremacy and anti-blackness. Students will also engage in self-reflection, develop self-awareness, and participate in critical analysis of systems of privilege and oppression, as well develop personal strategies for becoming antiracist and facilitating change in communities and society. *Course with a racial justice focus.*

This course provides the foundational knowledge to understand and recognize child maltreatment in diverse settings. The course covers the historical and comparative perspectives, including a trauma-informed and human rights perspective, on child maltreatment, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families. This course is designed for, but not limited to, students who are interested in public health, social work, human services, nursing and other health professions, sociology, psychology, law, and education. *Course with a racial justice focus.*

The course is designed to increase students' understanding of the adverse experiences of children growing up in various countries. The purpose of this course is to expose students to considerations of socioeconomics, health, culture, religion, and politics and how these affect the welfare and well-being of children across the world. This course examines advocacy efforts using a trauma-informed, human rights framework. *Course with a racial justice focus.*

This course introduces the social work profession and generalist social work practice. Students will be introduced to the core values of social work and be exposed to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), oppression, and social justice. The course will familiarize students with the various roles, functions, and tasks that social workers perform in a variety of settings and acquaint them with the primary skills and practices of social work with individuals, groups, and communities.

This course is designed to provide students with practical and theoretical knowledge and skills for addressing and resolving conflict through the use of mediation and negotiation strategies and tactics. Students will explore how power operates in various approaches, theories, and perspectives, including conflict theories and styles, strategies for empowering relevant parties in managing conflict through negotiation, and techniques and frameworks for third-party intervention. Students will also critically analyze methods of conflict management integrating concepts of human rights, trauma, and restorative practice within various contexts.

Restorative justice (RJ) is a social justice approach toward repairing the harm, promoting positive interpersonal relationships and building community when conflict, misconduct or criminal behavior occurs. RJ brings social justice to the criminal justice system, schools, and communities. With youth, RJ is an evidence-based approach toward improving school climate; interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects youth of color; and creating safe and supportive environments for children and youth without resorting to punitive responses. 

In this class, students will learn about RJ and practice skills in conducting RJ circles in school, the criminal justice system, and community settings with children, youth, and adults. Students with an interest in working in criminal justice settings, neighborhood community centers, schools, child welfare settings and other organizations serving children, youth and adults are encouraged to take this course. *Course with a racial justice focus.*

This course is approved for CEU's.

This course will introduce students to the core concepts (general theory and foundational knowledge), which inform evidence-based assessment and intervention with traumatized children and adolescents.  Strength-based practice will be highlighted, and a focus will be placed on the identification of protective and promotive factors that foster resiliency and post-traumatic growth. Trauma is broadly defined and includes children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events including, but not limited to natural disasters, war, abuse and neglect, medical trauma, and witnessing interpersonal crime (e.g. domestic violence) and other traumatic events. The course will highlight the role of development, culture and empirical evidence in trauma-specific interventions with children, adolescents and their families. It will address the level of functioning of primary caregiving environments and assess the capacity of the community to facilitate restorative processes.

Students participating in this course will assist in the development of a one-stop service center to address unmet needs of frail elders in Erie County. Students will work with members of the Project's Steering Committee and serve as consultants engaging in activities related to community engagement, program design, grant writing, performance measurement, marketing, outreach and policy advocacy over two semesters. Students will learn firsthand what consulting with non-profit organizations and local community groups is like to design and implement a large-scale project.