Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Social Work Practice with Communities Syllabus - Mumbai University

About this course

One of the important methods in social work practice is working with the communities. Though work at the community level has been in existence since 17th century, as a method of social work in early 20th Century and its utility and importance became highlighted after the Second World War. Since then, working with communities has a prominent place in social work education. It is a method that has the potential to bring about positive changes at the micro level in different types of communities. It is an effective method in building an inclusive and empowered community, but it is equally challenging. The larger developments and policies changes makes it imperative to understand different communities and its impact at macro and micro level. This necessitates starting the course with the basic concepts related to understanding communities, defining communities. The course contents also include the entire process of participatory community problem solving including understanding and working with the power dynamics inherent in the communities. Emphasis also is given to the empowerment and value framework necessary for development as a community practitioner. The skills needed to work with the communities also will be part of the curriculum. The subject envisages to help students to connect the information and skills learnt to the practice in field work.

Course objectives

• Help students appreciate the significance of community work as a context of practice towards understanding concepts of community, and evolution of community practice in Indian context;
• Give inputs about different models of community work.
• Facilitate understanding about phases of social work practice with communities;
• Equip students with tools and skills for working with the underserved communities

Learning outcomes

• CO 89 Appreciate the significance of community work in social work practice, with a focus on understanding the concept of community, marginalized groups, and the evolution of community practice in the Indian context.
• CO 90 Identify and describe different models of community work, understanding their application in diverse social work settings.
• CO 91 Explain the phases of social work practice with communities, demonstrating an understanding of the processes involved in community engagement and intervention.
• CO 92 Develop and apply tools and skills for working effectively with underserved communities, addressing their unique needs and challenges.

Unit I: Introduction to Communities and Social work Practice with Community

• Defining ‘community’
• Geographical categorization of communities (Urban, Rural, Tribal)
• Functional & migrant Communities
• Evolution of community social work practice in Indian Context
• Empowerment & value framework for working with underserved communities
• Community development & community organization

Essential readings

• Cohen A.P. (2010) The Symbolic Construction of Community. Routledge, London.
• Joseph S. and Dash B. M. (2016) Community Organization in Social Work. Discovery Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
• Patil, A. R. (2012) Community Organization and Development: An Indian Perspective. Prentice Hall India Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

Unit II: Models and Process of Community Social Work Practice

• Community organization models given by Rothman
• Social Planning
• Social Action
• Locality Development
• Weil and Gamble’s model of Community Practice
• Phases in the community organization/social work practice with communities
• First Phase
• Second Phase
• Third Phase
• Tools for community social work practice
• Community mapping (Intersections like religion, caste, gender & ablism)
• Resource mapping
• Skills required for community social work.

Essential readings

• Rothman, J., Erlich, J. I. and Tropman, J. E. (2008) Strategies of Community Intervention (7th Ed.) Eddie Bowers Pub. Co., Iowa.
• Gamble, D. and Marie, W. (2009) Community Practice Skills: Local to Global Perspectives. Rawat Publications; New Delhi.
• Taylor S. H. and Roberts R. W. (2013) Theory and Practice of Community Social Work. Rawat Publications, Jaipur
• George, P., Balakrishnan, G., Vaijayanta A. and Chase, F. (2018) Community Practices in India: Lessons from the Grassroots. Cambridge Scholars Publishing; Berlin.