Summer 2006

WGS F393 • Contemporary Issues in Domestic Violence

Course Description

Class meets June 2-30.

This course will survey theories regarding the causes of domestic violence, the history of the contemporary battered women's movement, international, national, state, and local policy issues, prevention and intervention practice models, as well as adminisrative, community practice, and research issues in the field. Topics to be addressed include: the bio-psycho-social needs of battered women, legal and criminal justice issues, types of domestic violence, and the effects on children, batterers, and issues specific to traditiionally underserved populations including women of color, lesbians and gays, persons with disabilities, older women and women who are recent immigrants. This course provides an overview of contemporary issues in domestic violence, designed to provide future social work practitioners with the conceptual frameworks and knowledge base necessary for effective intervention.

Grading Policy

Safety Plan Paper 20 points Reaction Papers 20 points Readings and Presentation 20 points Small Group Project 30 points Class Participation 10 points

Texts

Copies of articles and books are available at the Learning Resource Center at the School of Social Work. Other assigned readings will be available on E-reserves. Required: Quindlen, A. (1999). Black and Blue. Mass Market Media Roberts, A. (Ed.) (2002). Handbook of Domestic Violence Intervention Strategies: Policies, Programs, and Legal Remedies. New York: Oxford Press. Recommended: Goldolf, E. (1998). Assessing woman battering in mental health services. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

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