School Social Work Assessment: Integrating Psychological and Educational Testing
About this Event

This course is designed for professionals who have already obtained their MSW degree.

This instructor lead, online, 7-week course considers social work practice in the host setting of schools. It examines the challenges and opportunities of social work practice in educational settings by addressing the roles and functions of social workers within a complex ecological system of home/school/community. Topics are addressed from a multi-system, multi-modal approach to practice. Implications for social work practice involving prevention and intervention with a variety of client systems are examined. 7-week course delves into the integral place of assessment within the roles and functions of school social work services. Theoretical and practical knowledge about how psychological & educational testing and measurement procedures are included in problem-solving processes within schools and are embedded within the broader context of psycho-social assessment that leads to evidence-based interventions is examined.

Please note that textbooks for this course will cost approximately $85.

There are no scheduled class times, but there are assignment due dates.

Prior to taking this course, please review the technology requirements at http://help.d2l.msu.edu/.

Refunds will be given less a 5% administrative fee one week before the course start date. Students who drop the course up to one week into the course will be given a refund less a 50% administrative fee. After the first week no refunds will be issued.

Recommended for LMSW beginning and intermediate skill levels.

No in-completes will be offered.

As a result of this course, participants will be prepared to:

• Demonstrate how to use standardized assessment protocols

• Conduct comprehensive assessment and evaluation for students, families, and schools to identify student strengths and resiliency factors in order to diminish educational and developmental risks

• Conduct assessment of the impacts of trauma

• Recognize normative developmental expectations for infant, child, adolescent, and young adult functional skills, emotional, behavioral, social, cultural, communicative, cognitive, learning, and physical development

• Distinguish similarities and differences between clinically based definitions of psychiatric disorders and eligibility for educational support and services as indicated under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE)

• Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services provided as indicated on IEP/IFSP

• Practice effective communication of the assessment and evaluation results for students with disabilities that include recommendation and goals

• Communicate educational language in understandable terms to students and families

• Communicate educational jargon in understandable terms to parents, other school staff, and agencies, both written and oral.

Instructor:

Mark A. Nester, LMSW, has been a school social worker for over 30 years and teaching undergraduate and graduate students at MSU for the past seven years. He has consulted with the Michigan Department of Special Education and was working with a private K-8 school for the past four years.