1-3 credit hours

This course provides an understanding of the causes and dynamics of family violence and its effects on each member of the family as well as the community as a whole. Emphasis will be placed on examining the societal response to children and families at risk from the legal, social service, education, health and mental health systems, in an attempt to define how those responses work to protect and empower, or further endanger and disempower, children and families. Students will explore the changes needed across systems to more effectively intervene with families in need as well as changes needed to prevent abuse and neglect.