Course description
This course explores families from a variety of theoretical perspectives including: ecological model, Indigenous and diverse lived experience and systems perspective. Starting with students' own families, participants learn and use several frameworks in mapping, understanding, and reflecting on their lived experiences and how they may engage with families in professional practice. The concepts of identity, culture, and family as social constructs will be explored in a Canadian context.
Course content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
- Ability to reflect on one’s own values, beliefs and attitudes is central to understanding family experiences.
- Each family has strengths and les within a sociocultural context which is dynamic.
- Diversity exists between individuals and within families and communities.
- Early trauma, abuse and/or neglect have enduring intergenerational impacts on individuals and families.
- Identifying and supporting protective factors promotes resilience.
- The role of Child and Youth Care (CYC) practitioners is generally one of collaborative support.
Learning activities
- Lectures
- Group work
- Experiential classroom activities
- Student presentations
Means of assessment
This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.
- Written papers
- Group presentations
- Classroom participation
This is a graded course.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Conduct primary and personal assessment on their own family in order to apply learning to future Child and Youth Care (CYC) practice.
- Analyze family dynamics and patterns as a means of understanding the relationship between the role of individuals in families and family functioning, as a family unit and in the larger context of community.
- Explore the importance of working collaboratively wit families and other professionals by learning approaches to support practice with children, youth, and families.
- Evaluate one's awareness of how family experiences shapes both personal life and ways of engaging within child and youth care practice.
Textbook materials
Course materials and/or textbooks approved by the department.