The rapid decline of marriage and family as a social institution calls for understanding the family biblically and theologically. This course provides a Trinitarian theological foundation of family. The course will focus on practical insights for missional relationships so that families may thrive as they are on God’s mission amidst today’s unrelenting worldly pressures.

An exploration of the theories and knowledge of human bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural development from birth through young adulthood in the context of the range of social systems in which individuals live: families, groups, organizations, and communities. In this course social workers will recognize that a holistic perspective requires taking into account the biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual aspects of human needs, strengths, and experience. As well as the impact of social and economic forces on human development will be explored with special attention to evaluating theory and its application to issues of human diversity.

An integrated understanding of individuals, couples, and families within the cultural context. It will offer a study of the family as a system and the difficulties that families experience as they move through life and encounter people from different cultural backgrounds. The course will tackle misconceptions about different culture.

An examination of family stress and coping across the life cycle. Course will address psychological, sociological and biosocial theories and perspectives related to stress and coping. Topics are: parenting, poverty, work and family, violence, disability health/wellness, care-giving, normal/non-normal stress, and bereavement. Risk factors, protective and resiliency factors that facilities recovery will be addressed.

This course affords Missional students the opportunity to study the practices of the family, community and youth discipline. This course will present analytical concepts used in the study of the family, youth and community. Also in this course, emphasis is placed on the vulnerabilities and needs of children, youth, families and communities, and describes human services that maximizes human potential and minimizes personal and societal strain. The course introduces Missional students to the roles and skills of the human service professional.

In this course, Missional students will take a look at cultural diversity in the daily life and beliefs in families with young children. Various readings, discussions, videos, guest lectures, observations and reflective writing exercises will be utilized to assist future social science professionals in understanding and developing the personal and relational skills necessary to be active, transformative leaders. Missional students will learn key concepts, ethics, behaviors and competencies related to social work/social science professions and this course will also encourage Missional students to explore their own identity as a leader and professional in the social science field.

Missional Students through this course will analyze existing present day issues of risk in the lives of youth and at risk youth from a God center perspective. Missional Students will examine areas of practice using various frameworks to develop interventions appropriate to the risk issue. Missional students will demonstrate competence in real or simulated examples of risk situations using knowledge, skills, values and styles.