I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Working with Communities

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HSER 1114

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course provides the theoretical background to systems change, as well as the practical application to implement such change at the community and system levels. You will study theories and strategies for change from a systems perspective and apply them to a real problem in human services.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Human Services AAS
Human Services Technician Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Understand how power dynamics impact systems change
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Identify key community partners needed to create systems change

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Discuss how policy and politics influence system change;
• Understand the importance of engaging the population most impacted by the issue
• Understand the theoretical frameworks of systems change and community building;
• Identify barriers that affect underserved communities when working towards system change;
• Identify how you can be a change agent at any level;
• Describe components of planning for systems change;
• Understand how power dynamics impact systems change;
• Identify the major action strategies and tactics to achieve systems change; and
• Identify community partners necessary for systems change.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

• Defining Systems
  • Communities
  • Neighborhoods
  • Agencies
  • Groups
  • Family

• The Need for Change
  • Identifying the Need
  • Understanding the Community
  • Advocacy and Empowerment

• Understanding the Challenge to Change
  • Resistance
  • Resources
  • Power and Status Quo
  • Policy Change and Political Involvement

• Cultural Competence
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Cultural Humility
   
• Theoretical Frameworks for Community Change
  • Systems Theory
  • Conflict Theory
  • Community Capital
  • Organizing Models for Community Change

• Community Change and Professional Practice
  • Implications of Professional Values
  • Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration
   
• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
  • Defining CBPR
  • Tools
  • Implementation
  • Benefits and Barriers

• Engaging Community Partners
  • Identifying Talents and Assets
  • Getting People Involved
  • Maintaining Involvement
   
• Power
  • Defining Power
  • Relationship Between Your Issue and Power
  • Using Your Power
  • Empowering Others

• Raising Resources
  • Defining the Need
  • Monetary Needs
  • Social Capital
  • Grants
  • Community Resources and Supports
   
• Getting the Word Out
  • Describing the Issue
  • The Importance of Credibility
  • Marketing and Messaging

• Taking Action
• The Process of Change and Empowerment
• A Checklist for Action
• Adhering to a Firm Code of Ethics
• Preparing for Opposition

• Increasing the Effectiveness of Communities and Systems
• Elements Affecting the Behavior of Organizations
• Principles for Increasing Your Effectiveness
• Advocacy
• Lobbying for Change