Private Practice: Social Justice, Capitalism, and a Call to Action

Undergraduate / Graduate

Social workers in the US have long contended with the pull between work in public welfare or private sector. Proportion of SW engaged in direct clin prac has increased; over 80% of SW grads are employed in clin work post grad. With privatization of clin work settings, more SW work in priv prac settings than ever before. Despite changes, most SW curricula do not explore implications of priv prac, leaving grads without practice in how to critically think about and navigate priv prac settings in alignment with SW goals. To help bridge this gap, this course will examine the issue of priv prac today for SW, in the context of capitalistic demands and social justice foundations. Students will engage with the larger Chgo community of practitioners and practice owners, and commit to enacting SW values in future employment. Students will explore policy, assess the managed care insurance context, and critiques about the role SW both historically and currently play in clin work. Assignments will be community-based and we will utilize class time for further discussion and dialogue. Student learning will also benefit from the use of case studies and integrating their experiences from field. The course is not a "how to" on setting up a priv prac" -rather it is designed to stimulate critical analysis from future SW on the roles and values they will uphold in the sociopolitical prac contexts in which they will be working. Open to all Crown students; cross-listed with Chgo Studies in College.