Coun 4:
Contemporary Family Issues I
Marilyn
Ekladios, Ed.D.
Email:
t.marilyn@yahoo.com
954.684.8095
(Cell - preferred)
t.marilyn@yahoo.com
954.389.7873
(Home)
954.963.2288
(Fax)
MonirAtta-alla,Ph.D
Email:monir.attaalla@gmail.conm
Tel # : 412-251-3701
Carol
Mansour, M.A., LPC, LMFT
E-mail: carolmansour@verizon.net
Phone:
214.418.1597
Course
Description:
Today’s
families are more diverse than ever and face a myriad of complicated
issues, multigenerational adjustments, multicultural perspectives,
intercultural marriages, immigrant challenges, assimilation,
acculturation, faith conversions, peer pressure, and rapidly
declining family values. In more in-depth, we will focus part of the
course’s study on the specific Egyptian Christian community and
their plights in America.
Course
Objective:
v
Review and Discuss Contemporary Family
Issues
v
Understand the Dynamics of Immigrant
Families
v
Develop Strategies for Working with
Multigenerational Families
v
Provide Resources for Struggling Families and
New Immigrants
Course
Requirements:
Each student is
responsible for reading all the material required throughout the
course and handing assignments in on time. Participation grade will
be based on attendance at the initial On-Site class and subsequent
online meetings, discussions, and communication via email. Points
are given per assignment to equal a total of 100 points for the
grade of the course.
v
Personal Reflection Paper 2-3 pages (20
Points): It is important to first understand ourselves before we
plunge into the lives of others. This paper requires that the
student reflects on his/her highs and lows and reconciliation of
integrating a dual culture in his/her own life.
v
Mid-Term Paper – Case Review 2-3 pages (20
Points): Choose from the following and review a real case and
provide insight to a contemporary issue facing a family at your
church, work place, etc.
Choice (1) Interview a family, without the mention of names,
review their case, and discuss their
challenges in terms of at least one pertinent contemporary
family issue.
Choice (2) Interview a new immigrant family, without mention
of names, and review their case
discussing their challenges and
concerns.
Choice (3) Prepare a power-point presentation of a case
study.
v
Final Paper – Strategy Development 2-3 pages
(20 Points): Develop strategies and provide resources for a variety
of contemporary issues.
v
Commentaries: 1-2 page(s) News/Current Events
- summary pertaining to Contemporary Family Issues
(15 Points each).
**References
must be cited on all work submitted.
**Distance
Learning Schedule: (TBD)
|
Grading
Scale |
Assignments |
Possible
Grade |
|
A=90-100 |
Personal
Reflection Paper |
20
Points |
|
B=80-89 |
Commentary #
1 |
15
Points |
|
C=70-79 |
Mid-Term
Paper – Case
Review |
20
Points |
|
*Grades
below 70
require
administrative review |
Commentary #
2
Final
Paper - Strategy Development
Participation |
15
Points
20
Points
10
points |
|
|
|
Texts: (1
Required)
(1) The Family,
3rd Edition: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary
Home
(2) The Colors
of Freedom: Immigrant Stories
(Optional)
(3) Other
texts/articles may be added.
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
|
Date – Due Week of (not necessarily on
that day: |
Assignment
|
|
5/21-5/24
|
On-Site
Meeting |
|
5/25/09 |
Read Part
1 |
|
6/1/09 |
Reflection Paper
Due |
|
6/8/09 |
Read Part
2 |
|
6/15/09 |
Read Part
3 |
|
6/22/09 |
Commentary 1 – Conference
Call |
|
6/29/09 |
Read Part
4 |
|
7/6/09 |
Mid-Term
Due |
|
7/13/09 |
Read Part
5 |
|
7/20/09
|
Commentary 2 –
Conference Call |
|
7/27/09 |
Read
Part 6 |
|
8/3/09 |
Read Part
7 |
|
8/10/09 |
Final
Due |
|
8/17/09 |
Last Day of Course –
Grades |
Reflection
Paper – Describe your personal
experiences in becoming an integrated self in a foreign land and a
new culture.
Commentaries 1-2 pages (a current issue
in the news, church, internet)
Introduction – What is it? … Describe the
situation.
Citation of Article, Media, etc., Who is reporting this
issue?
Summary – Provide a thorough
summary.
Personal Viewpoint – What do you think about
this?
Case Review – see above. The purpose of
this assignment to fine-tune your questioning sequences, listening
skills, and nonjudgmental abilities to join with the person.
(Joining is the ability to see the situation from the others’
perspective and to really understand how their decisions make sense
to them even if they don’t make sense to you personally). Remain
neutral!
Intake (basically taking a
history)
Interview – questions and follow-up
questions
Listening
Joining
Strategy
Development – The purpose is to move
from problem talk to solution talk. (could be a real case or
hypothetical case)
Introduction - What is the
situation?
Presenting Problem – What is the problem at
hand?
Strategy Development
Love, Grace, Empowerment – Various chapters
in the book address these concepts and others are part of the
formula for solutions in the Christian perspective. Your strategies
should include examples of your understanding of these concepts.
A Coptic Orthodox Perspective Therapy – How can this
perspective be integrated in your techniques?
Understanding and utilization of the Holy Scripture in
Counseling
*Note: The
audio-conferences are tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays of that
week from 8:00PM – 9:00PM
In you have any
questions or concerns, please feel free to call me 8:00AM-11:00PM
(Eastern Time) or write me
anytime.
