FYC 3112 Contemporary Family Problems and Interventions

Students and people eager to help others.

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Instructor Information

Suzanna Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Human Development and Family Relations
3041 McCarty Hall D
(352) 392-2202 x 255
sdsmith@ufl.edu

Teaching Assistant

Lynn Max
3086 McCarty B
392-2202 x 279

Meeting Information and Times

Section 8282

227 NSC (Nuclear Science)
T 2-3 (8:30-10:25)
R 3 (9:35-10:25)

Office Hours

Dr. Smith Mon. 1-4 p.m. or by appointment
Ms. Max Wed. 10:15 a.m.-1:15 pm
 

Prerequisites

If you do not meet these prerequisites please see the instructor!
FYC 3001 Introduction to Human Resource Development AND
SYG 2430 Marriage and the Family OR FYC 3001 Parenting and Family Development
SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology
FYCS Major
 

Course Description

Focuses on the major social and family problems contemporary families face, including poverty, violence, and care of dependent elders. An emphasis is placed on family strengths and resiliency as well as social programs that help families withstand and overcome difficulties. Emphasizes the role of society, race and gender in constructing family problems.
 

Course Goals

  • To help students understand selected family problems and their impacts on families.
  • To help students develop their knowledge and skills for working with families.
  • To introduce students to major professional arenas for working with families.
  • To reinforce critical thinking skills as applied to family changes, issues and interventions.

Course Objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  • Summarize major changes in contemporary U.S. families, and explain how these challenge families.
  • Challenge assumptions about the ideal family.
  • Use theoretical concepts from theories of family systems and development, family stress and coping, and family resilience to analyze selected family problems.
  • Describe the impacts of selected family problems on family well-being, incorporating variations in family life by race, class, culture, gender, marital status and sexual preference.
  • Explain four professional strategies for helping families and apply your knowledge in assignments on family life education, family policy, and human services or marriage and family therapy.
  • Synthesize and apply knowledge of family problems, theory, and interventions to a family problem case example.