Learning Objectives

  1. Analyze one’s own emotional and cognitive reactions to a case study.
  2. Analyze the merits of different approaches to defining family.
  3. Compare six theoretical perspectives for understanding families (family systems, exchange and choice; symbolic interaction; feminist; life course developmental; and family stress, coping, and resilience).
  4. Identify several types of diversity in family life that might be encountered by social workers.
  5. Analyze three types of challenges to family life (family violence, divorce and relationship disso-lution, and substance abuse).
  6. Apply knowledge of family theories, family diversity, and family challenges to recommend guidelines for social work engagement, assess-ment, intervention, and evaluation.