Family Systems Practice Pathway

This course introduces systems theory as it is applied to family contexts, which may include traditional therapeutic settings, home-based practices, parenting approaches, family religious/spiritual strength and conflict, and transgenerational family processes. Emphasis is given to the integration of theory, practice and skill development. You will also explore family organization and development and family subsystems as they apply to assessment, case conceptualization and intervention with clients, individuals, couples, families, organizations, constituencies and communities. This course analyzes intersecting issues of power, privilege, and oppression and will require you to examine your own personal characteristics, preferences, experiences, biases, predispositions and affective reactions that influence the professional relationship.

This course focuses on the assessment of psychological, social and biological contributors to mental health disorders in children, youth, adults and older adults. You’ll examine the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM-5 classification system in the context of social work values and ethics and learn about symptoms, theories of etiology, treatment interventions and prognosis within each diagnostic category. You will also learn about assessment tools in the context of gender identity and expression, ethnicity, cultural diversity, sexual orientation and historically oppressed and/or disadvantaged populations.

The course is designed to give students an understanding of the issues military families face and how to apply that understanding to clinical interventions with military families. It also investigates individual service member concerns, spousal/partner relationships and family dynamics surrounding deployment, active duty, and returning home permanently or between deployments.

This course will prepare you to engage in strategic planning and program development roles and practice within a social work community, organizational or policy practice setting. You will gain knowledge in the principles of planning, social enterprise, the engagement of stakeholders in planning processes, community collaboration and the elements of designing and implementing programs. You’ll put this knowledge into practice by developing a comprehensive program proposal, applying strategic thinking, planning and critically evaluating research-informed practice and practice-informed research.

This course uses the interpersonal models of psychotherapy and neurobiology to examine traditional and contemporary psychotherapy theories and techniques. Interpersonal interventions are grounded within the values, ethics and standards of practice for clinical social work.

This course identifies challenges contemporary American families experience and presents strategies for developing policies and services to meet these challenges. You will explore specific policies and services that most affect families as well as broader questions concerning power and its distribution, allocation of resources and the role of government in promoting individual and family well-being.

Brent's Place is a long-term home away from home for children and families with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses while they receive treatment at local hospitals.

In addition to safe and clean housing, they also provide a variety of uniquely tailored programs and services for the entire family designed to help in the healing process.

The Denver Family Therapy Center hosts the Adolescent Substance Abuse Program—an intensive outpatient substance-use program for adolescents. The center takes a systemic family systems therapy approach to treating adolescents who are experiencing issues related to substance use. Interns gain experience in family, individual and group therapy, as well as substance-use treatment. Interns also learn and participate in administrative duties, including billing, managed care and marketing.

Warren Village is a transitional housing program designed to promote personal and economic self-sufficiency for low-income, single-parent families. It integrates affordable housing, supportive family services, life-skills classes, college-to-career development, housing and financial coaching, and onsite child care. Interns participate in case management and family advocacy, conduct biopsychosocial assessment interviews, gain knowledge about community resources and lead life-skills classes.

The Denver Indian Family Resource Center strengthens vulnerable American Indian and Alaska Native children and families through collaborative and culturally responsive services. Interns work with families with histories of trauma exposure.

Head Start is a no-cost, comprehensive, child-focused and family-centered preschool program for children ages 3–5. It adheres to trauma-informed practices and provides a range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, family support and parent education. Interns provide mental health services to children in Head Start and consult with parents and teachers to support the social-emotional development of children.