SWK 115 Community Resources

Spring 2005

W 9:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.

Two hours or more Blackboard/community work per week

 

Location: B101

Instructor: Sheri Narin

Office: L130

Office Hours: Posted by Office Door

Phone Number: (336) 599-1181 Ext. 424

E-mail: narins@piedmontcc.edu

Course Website: http://courses.piedmontcc.edu/

Faculty Website: http://www2.piedmontcc.edu/faculty/narins

Textbooks:  1) Successful Community Leadership: A Skills Guide for Volunteers and Professionals by Tropman, J.E., NASW Press, 1997

                     2) Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions, by Barsky, A.E., Wadsworth, 2000.

 

Other Required Materials: A large three-ring binder is required. Section dividers will also be required.

 

Course Description: This course introduces community resources essential to social work practice. Emphasis is placed on awareness of and the interaction with community service personnel. Upon completion, students should be able to identify resources and assess critical community needs. This course is a unique concentration requirement of the Social Services Concentration in the Human Services Technology Program.

 

Classroom - 2 Lab - 2 Clinic - 0 Credit - 3

 

Prerequisite/Corequisites: SWK 110 or permission of the instructor.

 

Course Objectives:

1. Student will identify at least 25 community resources and give detailed descriptions of the services available at these resources.

2. Student will develop and maintain an easily usable community resource notebook about these resources.

3. Student will identify the steps necessary to write a grant. Student will demonstrate an understanding of these steps through writing a mock grant.

4. Student will identify needs and problems in the local communities and match resources to the needs.

5. Student will identify physical location of at least 5 community resources and describe the process of getting assistance at this site.

6. Student will demonstrate at least three skills in conflict resolution through role plays and assignments.  

 

Evaluation

A combination of in class and homework assignments (250 points, or 25% of your grade), notebook evaluation (200 points, 20% of your grade), profile postings  (50 points, 5% of your grade) blackboard postings (200 points, 20% of your grade), and grant development and presentation (300 points, 30%) will comprise the basis of evaluation for this course. Evaluation will be based on an accumulative point system with a total of approximately 1000 points available. Total point value is subject to change.

Homework

You will be given several homework assignments. Assignments are to be turned on the due date and at the beginning of the class period due. Late homework assignments lose 5 points per day.

Notebook

You will maintain a three-ring binder with information from each community resource about which you learn. Information will be filled out on a profile form and each agency will have a separate area of the notebook (separated by dividers). Information should be neatly written and easily readable. Working effectively in the community depends on building relationships with other professionals in the community. Thus, personal contact with agency representatives is important. 

You will be responsible for contacting agencies and arranging interviews on your own. You will have a list of agencies and should do at least five interviews every three weeks for a total of twenty-five interviews done on your own by the end of the semester. Every time your notebook is collected, there should be five additional profiles, plus profiles from anyone who comes to the class. The interviews may be done in person or by phone but must be done by you, not copied from someone else. You may arrange for several students in the class to meet with someone to interview them at the same time. You can choose any of the twenty-five agencies from the attached list. If you have another agency at which you would like to do an interview, please contact me first to get permission. There may be some agency representatives who will be coming to the classroom. 

Notebooks will be collected approximately every three to four weeks. Grades will reflect accuracy and presentation of information as well as completeness and neatness.  Misspelled names of agency representatives or agencies and other inaccurate information will result in loss of points.

Notebook Postings on Blackboard

You will also responsible for posting a note each time you complete a profile. You will see a forum for each month and each time you complete a profile, you will need to post a note saying 'Profile # 1" (or whatever #), and in the message, post when you did the interview, with whom you spoke, whether the interview was in person or by phone, and one interesting thing you learned from that interview. If several of you interviewed the same person at one time, each person is still responsible for posting a message.  Profiles should be posted within three days (including weekends) of your interview.  Late notebook postings will lose 1 point per day.

Discussion Board Postings

Each week, you will respond to one or two blackboard questions.  They will generally be related to readings in Successful Community Leadership. You access this by  

Each set of blackboard responses will be given a grade. Late responses to original questions will lose a grade level per day late.  Responses to other students’ posts that are late will not be graded as this will negate the opportunity for students to interact and respond on Blackboard. Your response will answer the initial question. If the question asks for an opinion, you will not be graded on the content of your opinion, as long as you can back up your opinion (Explaining why you feel or think that way, including what experiences/knowledge led you to that conclusion). Answers are expected to be well thought out and in full sentences. An example of an appropriate answer is: “I think that these services exist because of this event (be specific) and this problem (be specific). These services are valuable because...”

You will respond to two of your classmate’s answers as well for each question. Your response to their answer will indicate agreement, disagreement, or further thoughts that your classmate’s answer provoked. An example would be, ‘I disagree with your answer because of this point, and wondered if you had thought of this further point.’

Students are encouraged to start discussions by replying to other students’ responses to your answers.

Questions should be answered each week by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Your response to other students should be posted by Sundays at 8:00 p.m. Some weeks’ questions may be posted ahead of time; please do not answer questions any more than one week ahead of

due date.

Criteria for Discussion Questions

The criteria for earning an A on a discussion:

 The criteria for earning a B on a discussion:

The criteria for earning a C on a discussion:

·        The discussion answers the question.

 

Feedback should be helpful to the student receiving it. Feedback will be evaluated for the following:

·        Clarity

·        Specificity

·        Usefulness to student (will it help the student to get a better grade on next discussion question?)

·        Balance - does the feedback point out strengths in the discussion as well as areas of weakness?

·        Helpfulness - Does the feedback provide resources to assist student in further research?

 

 

Grant Project

Thirty percent of your grade for this class will come from your grant presentation with 10 % reflecting the work you do up to the final presentation, 10% reflecting the final grant project, and 10% reflecting your oral presentation. However, failure to get a 'C' or higher on your final written and oral presentation will result in an 'F' for the class. You will turn in bi-weekly progress reports or your group’s work.

Work you do on the project will include assignments to be submitted, work on the group discussion board every other week, and a group progress report to be submitted the opposite week that you participate on the discussion.

EXTRA CREDIT!

Extra Credit: Perfect attendance will result in 1.5% added to your grade at the end of the semester. Being on time for every class will also be rewarded with an extra .5% points at the end of the semester.

You can also do up to three extra profiles, to be submitted with your last notebook submission.  However, you can only get these points if you have submitted the twenty-five required profiles. 

GRADING SCALE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON FINAL POINT VALUE TOTAL):

1000 to 900= A; 899 TO 800= B; 799 TO 700= C; 699 TO 600= D; Below 600= F.        

CLASS POLICIES:
1. You are expected to be on time and prepared for class. If you are unable to be in class, you are expected to let the instructor know by leaving a message by phone or email previous to the class period.
2. Assignments are to be turned in on the date due and at the beginning of the class period due. You are responsible for making up any missed in-class assignments; however, some assignments cannot be made up.
3. As noted in the attendance policy, excessive absences will reflect negatively on your grade.
4. The ability to write well is an important skill for your professional development. Assignments that are difficult to read due to handwriting will be returned with one opportunity to redo the assignment, within 2 days. Typing is strongly recommended. Some assignments require typing and will not be accepted if not typed. Assignments with excessive grammatical or spelling errors (excessive as subjectively defined by the instructor) will be returned with one opportunity to make corrections.
5) Below is the PCC policy on plagiarism:

 

                                                                                                              7.5.1

PLAGIARISM

 

Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism is “the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind and presenting it as one's own" (Alexander Lindey, Plagiarism and Originality, 1952).

 

The following acts are examples of intentional plagiarism:

 

Copying material from a published source to avoid having to devise one’s own ideas.

Failing to give clear and proper credit to an idea, phrase, or quotation taken from a source.

Purchasing a pre-written paper.

Having someone other than the stated author complete an assignment, or part of an assignment.

 

Unintentional Plagiarism occurs when a student provides sources for his or her work, but the sources are cited incorrectly or inadequately. Handbooks with documentation rules for Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychology Association (APA), two source documentation styles, are housed in the Caswell County Campus Resource Center and in the Person County Campus Learning Resource Center. Students are also encouraged to speak with their instructors when they are uncertain about documenting their sources in class assignments.

 

Plagiarism will result in disciplinary action, and repeated offenses will lead to increased penalties that may ultimately result in expulsion from the College, as set out below:

 

A student who unintentionally plagiarizes will receive a warning and instruction on proper citation, style, and usage for the first offense.

A student who unintentionally plagiarizes a second time in a single course will receive a course grade of F in the course in which the student plagiarized.

A student who intentionally plagiarizes will receive a course grade of F in the course in which the student plagiarized.

If a student receives a course grade of F due to plagiarism, the course instructor will notify the Dean of Student Development using the Plagiarism Incident Report Form.

If a student receives three course grades of F due to plagiarism, as determined by records kept in the office of the Dean of Student Development, he or she will be expelled from the College.

 

Legal Reference: G.S. 115 D-20

History Note: Effective January 20, 2004

 

6)  Assistance: Please contact me by phone or email with any questions or problems. There is also a distance-learning counselor available. Her name is Libbie McPhaul-Moore and she can be contacted at 599 - 1181 ext. 445.

7) Email policies: When sending an email to your instructor, please make sure that in the title, you put the course code (SWK 113, SWK115, etc.), your name, and to what this is in reference (Module two homework assignment, etc.). Emails that do not identify the speaker in the title line may be deleted to protect from viruses.

8) Late Assignments: Homework assignments that are late lose 5 points a day.  Discussion board answers to posted questions that are less than two days late will lose a grade level per day since it will be more difficult for other students to respond.  Discussion board responses that are late will not be graded as this does not provide the opportunity for other students to interact and learn from each other, thus negating the purpose of the assignment.  Exams cannot be taken after the last available day.

9) Dropping the class:  If you choose to drop the class, you must complete a drop form.  If you do not complete the drop form you will receive an “F” in the class.

10) Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or on vibrate in class. If you do get a call, please leave the classroom before answering the call.

 

 Student Success Center

 Piedmont Community College now offers a comprehensive package of services to assist students with their academic success. The Student Success Center, located in Room G-204, provides a variety of free learning support services including computer access, tutoring, supplemental instruction, study groups, and other academic services. Visit or call Gloria Bennett, Coordinator of the Student Success Center, at 599-1181 ext. 276 to access this valuable student resource.

Students with Disabilities

 If you have a disability that may affect your academic performance and need accommodations, you may contact the Special Needs Counselor, Shelley Stone in E-Building.  It is important to request accommodations early in order to give the counselor adequate time to consider your request and recommend reasonable accommodations.  Information provided to Ms. Stone will be kept confidential.

 

Financial Aid
It is important to be aware that withdrawing from a class or failing a class may adversely affect financial aid availability, and at times will result in your having to pay back money to the school. You are strongly encouraged to talk with the financial aid office before withdrawing from a class.


The last day to drop this class with a "W" is March 4, 2005.

Location Schedule:
All classes will meet in B101, unless otherwise noted.

CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to change):

For each week, there will be one or two discussion board questions to be answered.  Please post your response to discussion board questions by Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. and response to two other students, for each question, by Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

There will be other assignments given in class as well.

 

 

1) Wednesday, January 12, 2005

2)      Wednesday, January 19, 2005 

3)      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

4)      Wednesday, February 2, 2005    Notebook Due; Group Progress Report Due

5)      Wednesday, February 9, 2005

6)      Wednesday, February 16, 2005  Group Progress Report Due

7)      Wednesday, February 23, 2005

8)      Wednesday, March 2, 2005          Notebook Due; Group Progress Report Due

9)      Wednesday, March 9, 2005

10)  Wednesday, March 16, 2005      Group Progress Report Due

11)  Wednesday, March 23, 2005

12)  Wednesday, April 6, 2005          Notebook Due; Group Progress Report Due

13)  Wednesday, April 13, 2005

14)  Wednesday, April 20, 2005        Group Progress Report Due

15)  Wednesday, April 27, 2005        Notebook Due

16)  Wednesday, May 4, 2005           Grant Presentations.

 

Blackboard Dates:

Week One:  Thursday, January 6, 2005 to Sunday, January 9, 2005  No Assignments.

Week Two:  Monday, January 10, 2005 to Sunday, January 16, 2005 

Week Three: Monday, January 17, 2005 to Sunday, January 23, 2005

Week Four:  Monday, January 24, 2005 to Sunday, January 30, 2005 Group Discussion Board.

Week Five:  Monday, January 31, 2005 to Sunday, February 6, 2005

Week Six:  Monday, February 7, 2005 to Sunday, February 13, 2005  Group Discussion Board.

Week Seven: Monday, February 14, 2005 to Sunday, February 20, 2005

Week Eight:  Monday, February 21, 2005 to Sunday, February 27, 2005 Group Discussion Board.

Week Nine:  Monday, February 28, 2005 to Sunday, March 6, 2005

Week Ten:  Monday, March 7, 2005 to Sunday, March 13, 2005  Group Discussion Board.

Week Eleven:  Monday, March 14, 2005 to Sunday, March 20, 2005

Week Twelve:  Monday, March 21, 2005 to Sunday, March 27, 2005   Group Discussion Board.

(March 28, 2005 to April 1, 2005 is Spring Break)

Week Thirteen: Monday, April 4, 2005 to Sunday, April 10, 2005

Week Fourteen:  Monday, April 11, 2005 to Sunday, April 17, 2005 Group Discussion Board.

Week Fifteen: Monday, April 18, 2005 to Sunday, April 25, 2005

Week Sixteen:  Monday, April 26, 2005 to Sunday, May 1, 2005  Group Discussion Board.

Week Seventeen:  Monday, May 2, 2005 to Sunday, May 8, 2005

 

Detailed Blackboard assignments will be posted on Blackboard.

 

List of Agencies/ Departments:

1)         Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services (Carol Thomas)

2)         Department of Social Services, Adult Protective Services

3)         Department of Social Services, Foster Care

4)         Department of Social Services, Public Assistance/Work First (Gene Gentry)

5)         Guardian Ad Litem (Gwen Moore)

6)         VIP (Very Important Parents) (Cindy Hicks)

7)         Club Creative (Corlis Green)

8)         Person County Group Homes

9)         North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service (general profile)

10)       Family Connections (April Duckworth, Carla Johnson)

11)       4HYES (Malinda Davis)

12)        Employment Security Commission

13)        Economic Development Commission (Randy Reynolds)

14)       Smart Start/Partnership for Children/Child Care Resource and Referral

15)       Head Start (Carolyn Royster)

16)       Home Health and Hospice of Person County (Joyce Franke)

17)       Person County Health Department, Baby and Child Services

18)       Person County Health Department, Adult Services

19)       Roxboro Housing Authority (Pecolia Beatty)

20)       Person County Council on Aging

21)       Person Counseling Center (Marion Whitt)

22)       American Red Cross

23)       Drug Court (Dr. Alfred Faulkner)

24)       Person County Mentors

25)       Person County Recreation Department

26)       Early Intervention Program (Sharon Womack)

27)       OPC System of Care Children's Services (Lisa Lackman)

28)       Person County Medical Center/Dental Clinic

29)       PATS (Person Area Transportation)

30)       Roxboro Nursing Home

31)       Safe Haven

32)       Generations Adult Day Care

33)       Caswell County Partnership for Children

34)       Piedmont Community College Human Resources Department (Angela Webb)

35)       Employment Opportunity Commission
36)       Caswell County Section (8) Housing
37)       Caswell County Mental Health Center
38)       Caswell Employment and Training Administration
39)       Caswell County Department of Social Services
40)       Caswell County W.I.C. Program
41)       Caswell County Special Opportunity Center
42)       Vocational Trades of Caswell
43)       Caswell County Handicap Class (Title VI)
44)       North State Legal Services (Caswell County)

45)       JOY (Nutrition for Elderly), Caswell County

 

You do not need to speak with the person mentioned; that is an initial contact person. You must talk directly with at least one agency representative, however, for each profile.

 

 Other agencies can be used as well, but must be approved by instructor first.