SSWK165 High-Risk Youth

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Social Services

  1. Course Number and Title

    SSWK165 High-Risk Youth (Experimental)

  2. Number of Credits

    2 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    1500 minutes

  4. Prerequisites

    None

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    None

  6. Catalog Course Description

    This course focuses on the high-risk youth and adolescent populations. Core issues dealt with are defining high-risk youth and behaviors, identification of precipitating factors: individual, family, psychosocial, and developmental. Behaviors will be examined, as will interventions, treatment issues, treatment planning available resources, and ancillary services.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. To develop a working definition of youth at risk, including theory and implications.
      2. To be able to identify early stages of children and youth at risk.
      3. To develop an understanding of family issues contributing to at-risk status.
      4. To understand characteristics and contributors related to various at-risk behaviors.
      5. To become familiar with the processes of identification, prevention, and intervention with at-risk youth.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Defining “High-Risk”, theories, and implications, dysfunctional family systems, self-esteem issues, and adolescent depression
      2. Defining the behaviors of: Physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, and codependency, eating disorders, adolescent pregnancy, AIDS and the adolescent, sexuality and suicide, gang membership, and the occult school drop-out (prevention and intervention)
      3. Skill-building for our youth

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Available upon request from the Social and Behavioral Science Dpeartment.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Teaching methods employed will be in the form of lectures, group activities, and videos. Students will be required to complete a minimum of one paper, a journal, and a class project. Specific topics are included in section VIIA. Classes will be held from 3:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Fridays with two short breaks, and from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, with two short coffee breaks and a lunch break. The approach used is a seminar approach with balanced lecture, discussion, and activities. Students will be given theoretical baselines from which to work, and will participate actively in the learning process.

Review/Approval Date - Unavailable