Poverty has been an inescapable reality throughout the history of the US. We have learned a lot about which social and economic programs work and which do not. SW 525 provides an overview of the history of the United States’ social welfare system including the origins of social welfare policy, and the values and ethics that shape our present social welfare system. This course also discusses the effects these policies have on human rights and the influence of such factors as poverty, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity.

This course is designed to give students a broad overview on addictions, with a focus on alcohol and other drugs. We will explore the addictive and the recovery processes and look at best practices for assessment, intervention, and treatment. From a systems perspective, we will study the dynamics that exist in families with addictions. Through our discussion we will also explore treatment resources, co-occurring disorders, cultural competency, hope, and the strengths perspective.

Why are people poor and homeless, and is there anything that can be done about it? Join acclaimed poverty scholar Stephen Pimpare, author of the award-winning People’s History of Poverty in America, for a fascinating and fast-paced examination of poverty and homelessness in the U.S.

For a video overview of this course, click here: https://youtu.be/iO81APovMDU