*H-331 Risk and Resilience in Social Contexts from Birth to Young Adulthood: Strategies of Prevention and Intervention
Stephanie M. Jones
This course has two aims: (1) to understand how risk and resilience processes and competence develop in social contexts, and (2) to explore how interventions based on this developmental information can enhance competence. The course will emphasize how developmental processes of risk and resilience are affected by social contexts. Contexts to be studied range from the small-group, organizational, and community contexts up to the level of public policy and culture. The course will review strategies and systems of prevention and intervention that target change in these social contexts, and thereby reduce risk or increase adaptation. The course will draw on multidisciplinary content from the fields of human development, education, developmental and community psychology, psychiatry, public health, and public policy. The first part of the course will focus on developmental theories relevant to a contextual approach to risk, resilience, and competence. The second part will explore, in depth, a range of strategies for prevention, intervention, and social change that show evidence of positive impacts on child and youth development. In this part of the course, attention will focus on stages of program conceptualization, implementation, evaluation, and expansion or replication. This course is required for all Risk and Prevention students; it is open to others with permission of the instructor. Doctoral students studying in the areas of risk, resilience, social intervention, and social change are encouraged to enroll, as are students enrolled in either practica or research experiences in risk and prevention.
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Prerequisite: Some background course work in developmental psychology is helpful but not necessary.