CSOCS 3888 Child Homelessness: A Multi-Disciplinary Discourse
Faculty Contact: Jan Wall, Ph.D. (617.349.8902, jwall2@lesley.edu)
Course Summary:
This 1 Credit Discussion Group will be multi-disciplinary. Each of the 7 evening sessions will be facilitated by faculty with unique backgrounds and interests (neuropsychology, policy/advocacy, global studies, cognitive psychology, etc.) Readings, and suggested questions to consider, will be provided a week in advance of the discussions.
The intention of the course is to broaden students’ awareness on the topic of homelessness, better preparing them to critically engage in, and contribute to, their subsequent educational and internship placements.
Established by Lesley University in May 2011 with support from the Schoen Family Foundation, the Child Homelessness in Massachusetts Initiative is designed to bring attention to the growing number of children and families without adequate shelter in the Commonwealth. According to the Urban Institute, in the United States, “on any given day over 200,000 children are homeless.” One child in five in the United States is likely to experience chronic or episodic homelessness before reaching age six. Of the children most likely to experience homelessness, twenty-five percent have suffered from physical abuse and neglect. In Massachusetts upwards of 20,000 to 50,000 children experienced homelessness in 2010, the latest year for which there is government data.
Course Objectives:
- Students will develop a multi-disciplinary perspective on the issues related to child homelessness.
- As a pre-internship course, this course will prepare student wishing to move into its fieldwork component at designated agencies focusing on homelessness.
- Enhance students' confidence in their ability to work with homeless children and shelters and to anticipate the learning challenges facing homeless students.
Syllabus download (pdf)
Student Testimonials
"My experience thus far in the Child Homelessness course is truly outstanding. Not only is it an eye-opener, but it is also very informative. The structure allows different aspects to be covered by different professors and others in the field who know that particular area well. It is a wonderful course that may start a miraculous movement against child homelessness, and in my opinion change must begin with the proper education."
- Charda Davis, Dual Degree Counseling/Clinical Mental Heal Counseling, Class of 2012
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Janel Lucas
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