Section outline

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    General

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    • Announcements Forum
    • Syllabus File PDF
      154.8 KB · Uploaded 06/10/25, 16:06
    • Attend a Recovery Meeting (No Written Submission Required) Assignment

      Some time during the course, attend one open recovery meeting of your choice. This can be Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, Dharma Recovery, or any other open mutual aid, 12-step, or peer support group related to substance use disorder. You're welcome to attend in-person or virtually, whatever feels safe, accessible, and comfortable for you.

      This isn't about analyzing or critiquing the model. The goal is to witness, reflect, and develop your felt sense of what recovery may look or sound like outside of the classroom or the clinic. You will be invited to share a few takeaways in class in an informal way, but there will be no formal written assignment attached to this, though you may include aspects of it in other assignments.

      Note: If you regularly attend any of these meetings for yourself, I encourage you to attend something different to have a novel experience.

      Extra Note: Please make sure the meeting is open to individuals who don't necessarily identify with the specific population. Attend with respect, confidentiality, and curiosity. If you're unsure how to find a meeting, or want help choosing one, I'm happy to assist.

    • Facilitated Class Process & Discussion (No Written Submission Required) Assignment

      This assignment will be ongoing throughout the course, in small groups or dyads, with sign-ups happening during our first class.

      Each student will co-facilitate a segment of class discussion (either in a dyad or small group) on a date and topic of your choosing. This is not a formal presentation or a lecture. Your role is to create and guide a grounded, thoughtful conversation that helps the group reflect more deeply on the day's readings, themes, and questions. You will be expected to have read the optional readings for your presentation week.

      You're welcome to use your own style here. You may use a powerpoint, structured prompts, small group breakouts, experiential exercises, or a strong centering question. What matters most is that you bring presence, clarity, and leadership. This is a practice in facilitating meaning-making, not performing mastery.

      We'll walk through expectations together on Day 1, and I'll be available if you want to bounce around ideas ahead of your facilitation date.

      Criteria Excellent (5) Good (3-4) Needs Improvement (1-2)
      Clarity & Presence Demonstrates a strong presence; offers a clear structure and guides the group with confidence and intention. Generally clear and engaged. Appears unprepared, unfocused; lacks cohesion or direction
      Engagement with Content Clearly integrates readings, course themes, or key questions to spark reflection and insight. References course material, but links may be superficial or underdeveloped. Little or no engagement with course content; discussion feels off-topic or shallow.
      Facilitation & Inclusion Actively fosters participation and draws in a range of voices; manages time and energy well Involves the group, but may lean to heavily on instructor or group members. Disconnected from group process.
      Flexibility & Responsiveness Adapts organically to group energy, questions, and spontaneity; maintains flow. Generally responsive, but may miss cues or over-rely on a fixed structure. Rigid or disengaged; doesn't attend to group dynamics in real-time.
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    Week 1 (6/23): Substance Use, Stigma, and the Social Work Lens

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    Week 1 (6/26): Language, Identity, and Theories of Addiction

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    Week 2 (6/30): Structural Violence and the Drug War

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    Week 2 (7/3): Trauma-Informed Practice and Clinical Foundations

    • Trauma and Substance Use: How Social Workers Can Help URL
    • SAMHSA's 6 Principles of Trauma-Informed Care URL
    • Critical Reflection Paper Assignment
      Opened: Monday, June 9, 2025, 12:00 AM
      Due: Thursday, July 3, 2025, 11:59 PM

      This short paper (3-4 pages) invites you to reflect on how your personal identities, experiences, and social location shape the way you think about substance use, recovery, and your emerging clinical stance. You'll bring an honest, thoughtful lens to questions like: What assumptions do I carry? What values shape my responses? What personal experiences feel close to this material, and how do they influence how I show up in the room?

      You're not expected to share anything you don't feel safe or comfortable disclosing. This is not about self-disclosure for its own sake, nor is it about the specific content of your experiences, but rather about understanding yourself as a clinician: where your biases live, where your passion lies, and where you have room to grow.

      You'll be expected to cite at least 2-3 readings or sources that have helped you contextualize or deepen your reflections. This assignment bridges the personal and the scholarly, bringing your internal world into conversation with theories, frameworks, and perspectives we're studying. Think of it as a rehearsal for ethical, self-aware practice.

      In plain language, I'm looking for:

      1) Thoughtful reflection on how your experiences and identities shape your views
      2) Clear connection to course concepts
      3) Honest insight into your growth areas and clinical stance
      4) Writing that's organized and readable
      5) Respect for your own boundaries. Share what feels right for you.

      Criteria Excellent (5) Good (3-4) Needs Improvement (1-2)
      Self-Awareness & Insight Demonstrates deep reflection, honesty, and complexity in exploring values, biases, and emotional responses Shows effort to reflect, with some depth; some areas underexplored Limited self-reflection or over-generalized; lacks depth or nuance
      Connection to Scholarship Skillfully integrates 2-3 course readings, theories,  concepts, or scholarly sources to conceptualize reflection Includes readings/concept, though integration may be surface-level or unclear in places Few or no references; little connection to theoretical frameworks
      Clarity & Organization Writing is clear, coherent, and easy to follow; strong voice and flow Mostly clear; minor issues with structure or tone Disorganized or unclear; difficult to follow thoughts or structure
      Ethical Boundaries & Containment Shares appropriately; reflects awareness of clinical self Attempts to reflect awareness of clinical self Unclear reflection of clinical self
      Citation & Formatting Proper APA style used for citations and references (minor errors okay) APA mostly correct; small issues in formatting Missing or incorrect citations; APA not followed
    • Required Readings Folder
    • Bonus Readings Folder
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    Week 3 (7/7): Families, Systems, and Intergenerational Recovery

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    Week 3 (7/10): Harm Reduction, Housing, and Human Rights

    • Position Paper on SUD Treatment Assignment
      Opened: Monday, June 9, 2025, 12:00 AM
      Due: Sunday, July 13, 2025, 11:59 PM

      This is where you take a real, grounded stance on a controversial or complex issue in the field of substance use work. Your goal is to make a clear argument that shows critical thinking, ethical awareness, and real engagement with the course material. 

      Some examples of possible topics include:

      - harm reduction vs. abstinence-based recovery

      - mandated/coerced treatment

      - racial disparities in access to care or criminalization

      - the role of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

      - Spirituality in treatment

      - decriminalization, legalization

      - any other topic you've been wrestling with. Pitch you idea if unsure!

      This isn't a research paper or literature review. It's an opportunity to demonstrate that you've thought something through and can defend your perspective with clarity, nuance, and integrity.

      Requirements:

      - 5-6 pages (double spaced)

      - Choose a specific and meaningful issue

      - Take a clear stance and build a well-supported argument

      - Acknowledge nuance, complexity, and possible counterpoints

      - Cite at least 4-6 scholarly sources

      - Use APA-style citations (don't stress perfection)

      Criteria Excellent (5) Good (3-4) Needs Improvement (1-2)
      Clarity of Position & Argument Takes a clear, meaningful stance and develops it with depth and nuance Position is clear; argument is generally strong but may lack depth in places Position is vague, undeveloped, or unsupported
      Integration of Course Material and Scholarship Skillfully incorporates 4-6 course readings or scholarly sources to support claims and demonstrate depth Use sources to support argument, though integration may be surface-level or uneven Minimal use of course material; sources are unclear, misused, or missing
      Engagement with Complexity Thoughtfully addresses counterpoints, ethical tensions, and structural dimensions of the issue Attempts to address multiple sides; may lack depth or miss key complexity Paper avoids nuance or oversimplifies the issues
      Voice, Organization, Style Writing is clear, organized, and engaging. Tone is persuasive and professional Writing is mostly clear and organized; minor issues with flow or tone Disorganized, unclear, or overly casual; hard to follow argument
      Citation & Formatting APA style used accurately for all citations and references Minor APA issues; mostly correct formatting Missing or inaccurate citations; APA not followed
    • Independent Project Proposal Assignment
      Opened: Monday, June 9, 2025, 12:00 AM

      Submit a short paragraph (no more than a handful of sentences) outlining your plan for the final project. Include the format you're thinking of, the topic or focus you're thinking of, and how it connects to course themes. This is just to make sure you're on the right track. I'll follow up if I have feedback or suggestions. See the Independent Project description on Moodle for examples. 

    • Principles of Harm Reduction URL
    • Housing First Model URL
    • Housing First Works URL
    • Required Readings Folder
    • Bonus Readings Folder
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    Week 4 (7/14): Intersectionality, Marginalization, and Ethical Practice

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    Week 4 (7/17): Recovery Pathways and Peer Support

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    Week 5 (7/21): Spirituality, Meaning, and Clinical Integrity

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    Week 5 (7/24): Synthesis, Systems, and Social Work Futures