SW 634 - Legal Issues in Social Work Practice

Units: 4
In-depth exploration of complex legal issues in social work practice such as confidentiality, minor consent law, abortion, parental rights, access and consent to treatment, mental health commitment procedures, rights of dependent adults, rights of children, marriage, and divorce.

Prerequisites: M.S.W. major.
Possible Instructional Methods: Hybrid.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Understand the legal system’s structure and vocabulary as it relates to social work practice (PLO: Values and Ethics).
Critically analyze cases and media presentations of law as they relate to social work practice, ethics & policy (PLO: Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).
Describe the intersection between law and social work in relation to issues of importance to the profession (PLO: Professional Use of Self).
Demonstrate facility in accessing legal resources and information needed in the provision of culturally responsive social work services (PLOs: Advocacy; Diversity).
Demonstrate an understanding of forensic social work and social workers as witnesses (PLO: Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).
Understand the role of the law as a source of advocacy for the oppressed and disenfranchised, as well as for social justice and change (PLO: Diversity).
Successfully research and present a legal/social work issue in-depth to social work peers, both orally and in writing, while working in a collaborative team (PLO: Communication).