|
The Department of Social Work at Niagara University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work.
SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT
The Social Work Department at Niagara University is committed to the creation of a just and compassionate world, where human dignity and cultural diversity are restored, preserved and celebrated, and where social and economic choices and opportunities are fairly distributed among all members of our diverse and interconnected world. Education for social work is accomplished through a curriculum that combines a solid liberal arts perspective with social work foundation courses. Within the social work curriculum, our special concern is for poor and at-risk populations living in our region and beyond.
Given this commitment, the mission of the Social Work Department at Niagara University is the preparation of competent generalist social work practitioners capable of empowering practice with diverse client systems of all sizes and types, who act ethically, who think critically, who participate actively within the community, and who are committed to social and economic justice. Consistent with the Vincentian tradition of Niagara University, students and faculty engage in social service and social action activities to benefit at-risk populations and impoverished communities. In addition, social work faculty act on the mission through the development of knowledge for social work and as social work leaders at university, local, state, and national levels.
There are five major themes embedded in the department’s mission statement: 1. competent generalist social work practice; 2. empowerment of poor and at-risk populations; 3. social and economic justice. 4. service to poor and at-risk communities; and 5. knowledge development and leadership activities. Focusing on these themes has enabled the faculty to generate 5 program goals and 22 program objectives that help bring the mission alive in the daily experiences of students and faculty.
The 5 goals derived from the Department’s Mission Statement follow:
* To prepare competent generalist practitioners who are grounded in the liberal arts and who integrate social work knowledge, values and skills with diverse client systems of various sizes and types (theme of competent generalist practice);
* To prepare graduates with special skills and knowledge to empower populations-at-risk and the poor (themes of empowerment of at-risk and poor populations and social and economic justice);
* To demonstrate commitment to social and economic justice through active citizenship, social policy activism, and through improving social service delivery systems (theme of social and economic justice);
* To demonstrate concern for poor and at-risk populations through participation in service learning and extracurricular service activities (theme of service to poor and at-risk communities);
* To contribute to the social work profession through the development of social work knowledge and through leadership activities (themes of knowledge production and leadership and social and economic justice).
Program Objectives:
Graduates of Niagara's Social Work Department will be able to:
1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. Practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession.
3. Understand and respect the positive value of diversity.
4. Demonstrate the professional use of self.
5. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.
6. Understand social change strategies that advance social and economic justice.
7. Understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.
8. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work to practice with systems of all sizes.
9. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social-spiritual variables that most affect individual development and behavior.
10. Use theoretical frameworks to understand individuals and social systems (i.e., families, groups, organizations, and communities.)
11. Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies.
12. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice.
13. Under supervision, evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems.
14. Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
15. Use supervision appropriately to generalist practice.
16. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems.
17. Under supervision, seek necessary organizational change.
18. Recognize and assess the strengths of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
19. use an empowerment model of problem solving in their work with client systems of various sizes and types.
20. Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain an empowering partnership with clients.
21. Work to alleviate poverty through activism within the social policy arena.
22. Utilize continuing education and/or graduate educational opportunities to extend their personal and professional growth.
| 
