BV-100 Introduction to Child Welfare (Autumn 2020)

The course is teached in norwegian.

After course completion the student should have knowledge of:

Knowledge base:

• familiarity with sources of evidence based knowledge-based practice in child protection, and children's right to participate in decisions that impact them

• have insight into the child welfare services' roots and past conflicts and how this affects child welfare services today

• be familiar with national and international conventions and central governmental guidelines for the organization of child welfare services

• have knowledge of the connection between target group, purpose, measures and results, including ethnic and multicultural challenges in the child welfare services

 

Skills:

• be able to analyze and critically reflect on guidelines, principles and various interventions in the child welfare service

• be able to identify and analyze key issues related to the actualization of children 's rights in a child welfare context

• be able to identify, communicate and critically reflect on the challenges associated with the child as an actor in their own life

• be able to reflect on one’s own behavior in meeting and interacting with others

 

Core Competencies:

• be able to use databases and the current state of knowledge relevant to child welfare service

• be able to reflect critically on dilemmas that may arise as a result of child welfare service's mandates and values

• be able to reflect critically on the implementation of measures in the child welfare context and have the ability to assess their impact

This course will give an introduction to child welfare. Emphasis is placed on critical reflection of child welfare service as an institution in today's society. The course will cover the history of child welfare services, the basic values ​​and working methods and how these affect child welfare today. The course emphasizes how guidelines in key management documents and international conventions characterize child welfare services decision making processes and results. Emphasis is placed on regulations, quality controls and frameworks in order to understand child welfare work methods. The course focuses on understanding ethnic and multicultural challenges in child welfare service as well as identifying sources of evidence based knowledge-based practice. The student should also gain insights into themes concerning effective connection in child welfare services, as well as communication and relationships. The child as a central actor in their own life is a core component of this module. The goal is to lay the foundation for a critical understanding of the child welfare service's intention and function in society today.

 

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching is a combination of lectures, group work and compulsory seminars. The course includes a compulsory observation practicum of 15 days divided between municipal (10 days) and state child welfare services (5 days).

The exam consists of 5 hours of individual, written assignment. It is graded A-F