/Institutions/Southern-University-System/json/2022-2023/Southern-University-at-New-Orleans-Academic-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Southern-University-System/json/2022-2023/Southern-University-at-New-Orleans-Academic-Catalog.json

Southern University at New Orleans Academic Catalog > Curricula > School of Social Work

School of Social Work

BSW Program

Rebecca A. Chaisson, Ph.D., LCSW, Dean

Office: Millie M. Charles School of Social Work (MMCSSW) – Room 207

Phone: (504) 286-5378

Email: rchaisson@suno.edu

Gladys Merrick, MSW - BSW Program Director

Office: MMCSSW – Room 242

Phone: (504) 286-5071

Email: gmerrick@suno.edu

Catherine Kalob, MSW - Director of Field

Office: MMCSSW – 260

Phone: 504-286-5051

Email: ckalob@suno.edu

Claude Montegut, MSW - Acting Director of BSW Field

Office: MMCSSW – Room 232

Phone: (504) 286-5051

Email: cmontegut@suno.edu

Associate Professors: Rebecca Chaisson, Ph.D., Patricia Guillory, Ph.D., Jill E. Murray, Ph.D., Ira A. Neighbors, D.S.W., Millie M. Charles Endowed Chair for Human Rights and Social Work; Ben Robertson, Ph.D., Harry Russell, Ph.D.; Assistant Professors: Edgar Blanchard, M.S.W., Derrick Freeman, Ph.D., Hyacinth McKee, DBH, Holly McKinney, DSW, Gladys Merrick, M.S.W., Claude Montegut, M.S.W., Samuel Odom, Ph.D., Torin Sanders, Ph.D., Patrice Sentino, D.S.W., Gail Wise, D.S.W

Mission

The mission of SUNO-SSW is to prepare competent and effective social workers committed to addressing strengths and challenges of a diverse client population in a changing and evolving global community. Quality educational experiences, undergirded by the Schools themes of advocacy, empowerment and transformation, prepare baccalaureate students for agency based generalist practice and master students for agency based advanced social work practice. Such practice is further guided by the School’s dedication to critical practice knowledge and skills and the essential values of the profession: service, social and economic justice, the dignity and worth of the individual, and the importance of human relationships.

Goals

Teaching

1. To use learning approaches that prepare students to integrate the values, ethics, knowledge, and skill base of the social work profession with systems of all sizes arid with respect for all people aimed toward social change and promotion of social and economic justice.
2. To anchor social work knowledge in our program’s themes of advocacy, empowerment and transformation.

Service

1. To provide leadership to the university, the community, and the profession.
2. To serve the local, national and international areas by preparing students to fill the dynamic social welfare resource needs for generalist and advanced practitioners.
3. To foster the commitment of students and faculty to active involvement in improving the quality of life in the community in which they live.

Scholarship

1. To effectively assist the process of professional development among faculty and students.
2. To contribute to the knowledge base of the strengths of diverse client populations.

COMPETENCIES: Upon completion, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice
4. Engage in Practice Informed Research and Research Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

Provisions of these programs are subject to change without notice and do not constitute an irrevocable contract between the University and any student.

The Profession of Social Work

The profession of social work is concerned with enhancing social functioning and improving the human condition through the promotion of social and institutional change and the provision of opportunities and resources to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The fundamental concern of social work is the relationship between individuals and social institutions. Of central importance is the development of these relationships in such a way as to promote social and economic justice and protect the opportunities for people to live with dignity and freedom. Professional practice focuses on the transactions between people and their environments that affect their ability to accomplish life tasks.

Educational Philosophy and Themes

The Southern University School of Social Work is committed to a view of social work that is holistic and transcending in its approach. Emphasis is placed on the strengths and growth potential of people, individually and collectively. The BSW and MSW curricula focus on generalist and advanced social work practice, respectively, which are concerned with enhancing and improving the human condition through the promotion of social and institutional change and the provision of opportunities and resources to individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

The themes of ADVOCACY, EMPOWERMENT, AND TRANSFORMATION provide a pivotal and integrating link between the educational objectives of the program and the curriculum content. These themes embrace a view of the individual, family, group, organization and community, as responsible actors in the self-actualization and change processes.

Advocacy

Refers to the act of providing support to and intervention in the interest of client system. These efforts are directed toward the realignment of power to effect change and achieve freedom from oppression.

Empowerment

Focuses attention on the fact that powerlessness is pervasive and preeminent among oppressed people. As a profession that impacts the lives of these people, we are committed to teaching strategies which incorporate the concept of empowering individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to take control of their own lives, and shape their destinies.

Transformation

To accomplish transformation, the profession of social work must assist individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to change the structure of systems that exert a confining and oppressive hold on their opportunities for achievement.

Organization and Structure of the School of Social Work

The SUNO School of Social Work administers two programs: (1) a four-year bachelor of Social Work program (BSW) which provides social work education in preparation for beginning generalist professional practice; and (2) graduate Social Work program (MSW) which provides social work education in preparation for advanced specialized professional practice. A doctoral level social work program (D.S.W) is pending final approvals.

Accreditation and Program Approval

The School of Social Work in compliance with its’ accrediting body, CSWE, provides social work education designed to enrich students professional abilities by tailoring education around the nine (9) 2015 EPAS competencies. Educational instructions positively impact students professional dimensions in areas of knowledge, values/ethics, skills, and cognitive/affective aptitude. The CSWE Competencies are:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice
4. Engage in Practice informed Research and Research Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engage in Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• Bachelor of Social Work Program