Community Psychology I (PSYC 840)
Fall 2009, Section 001
4:30 -7:10 p.m., Wednesdays in Innovation 316

Professor: Jerome L. Short, Ph.D.
Office: David King Hall 2057
Telephone: 703 - 993 -1368
E - Mail: jshort @ gmu.edu
Website: http://mason.gmu.edu/~jshort
Office Hours: 1:45 - 2:45, Tuesdays and Thursdays

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles and intervention strategies of Community Psychology.  In addition, students will plan a consultation project with a community agency that should be completed by the final week of the spring semester in 2010 for the PSYC 841 course. Class time will focus on discussion of reading assignments and consultation projects.

Requirements:
1. Class attendance, discussion, and presentation.  Students should attend each class and contribute actively to our discussions by identifying key issues in the readings and consultation projects and suggesting ways to deal with them.  In addition, on Wednesday, December 2, or Wednesday, December 9, students will give an approximately 30 to 40 minute oral presentation summarizing their background paper and project plan.  Please print a one‑page outline of the presentation for each class member to refer to and prepare a powerpoint presentation.  This work counts 20% toward the course grade.

2. Progress Notes and Contract.  Students’ progress notes should include dates of all contacts with your chosen agency and observations about issues, resolutions, and processes of the consultation.  The contract should indicate the consultee, the goals of the project, the procedures for accomplishing the goals, the consultant responsibilities, any anticipated support from the consultee, and a schedule for completion of the project.  The progress notes and contract count 10% toward the course grade and are due on December 9.

3. Background paper and project plan for consultation project.  The paper should summarize the literature relevant to a student’s project, describe the agency or organization where it will be implemented, and provide an initial plan for the project.  The length of the paper is 10 to 20 pages with approximately 10 to 20 references.  The paper is due on Wednesday, December 9, and counts 30% toward the course grade.

4. Exam.  The exam will consist of five questions distributed on Wednesday, November 18 to be completed outside of class without help from any other person.  A paper copy of the exam is due to me on Monday, December 14.  Each of the answers should be approximately 2 to 3 double‑spaced pages. The exam counts 30% toward the course grade.

Grading: A = 93 ‑ 100%; A- = 90 – 92%; B+ = 87 ‑ 89%; B = 80 - 86%; C = 70 ‑ 79%;   F = < 70%

Honor Code.  The Honor Code of George Mason University deals specifically with cheating and attempted cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing. Students should be familiar with the code and connected policies, set out at http://catalog.gmu.edu/content.php?catoid=5&navoid=410#Honor This course will be conducted in accordance with those policies.
Disability Resources.  If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.

Last Day to Add:   September 15, 2009
Last Day to Drop:  October 2, 2009

Recommended textbooks:
Dalton, J.H., Elias, M.J. & Wandersman, A. (2007). Community psychology: Linking individuals
            and communities. (2nd Ed.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.

Moritsugu, J., Wong, F.Y., & Duffy, K.G. (2009).  Community psychology. (4th Ed.) Boston:
            Allyn & Bacon.

The Community Toolbox http://ctb.ku.edu 

Schedule and Readings:   9/2  Introduction

Short, J.L.  (2002).  Teaching community psychology and consultation techniques to doctoral
 students.  The Community Psychologist, 35(4), 28-30.

9/9  Community Psychology Definition and History

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 1, What is community psychology?
 (pp. 15‑33)

Short, J.L., Shogan, C.J., and Owings, N.M. (2005). The influence of first ladies on mental health
 policy. White House Studies, 5(1), 65-76.

9/16 Community Intervention Strategies

Moritsugu, J., Wong, F.Y., & Duffy, K.G. (2009).  Community psychology. (4th Ed.) Boston:
            Allyn & Bacon. Chapter 5, Community intervention strategies (pp. 95-118)

Caplan, G., & Caplan, R. B.  (1993).  Mental health consultation and collaboration. 
San Francisco:  Jossey‑Bass Publishers.  Chapter. 2:  A definition of mental health
consultation (pp. 11-23).

9/23   Mental Health Consultation Process

Caplan, G., & Caplan, R. B.  (1993).  Mental health consultation and collaboration. 
San Francisco:  Jossey‑Bass Publishers. 

Ch. 3:  Developing a consultation program in a community;
Ch. 4:  Building relationships with a consultee institution;
Ch. 5:  Fostering effective relationships with the consultee, (pp. 24‑85).
9/30 Community Research

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth. Chapter 4, Methods of community research.
 (pp. 96-128)

Jason, L.A., Pokorny, S.B., Parka, M., Adams, M.,J., & Morello, T.  (2009).  Frequency
            and citations of published authors in two community psychology journals.  Journal of
Community Psychology, 35(8), 967-979.

Pokorny, S.B., Adams, M., Jason, L.A., Parka, M., Cowman, S., & Topliff, A.  (2009).  Frequency
            and citations of published authors in two community psychology journals.  Journal of
Community Psychology, 37(2), 281-291.

10/7 Understanding Communities

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 6, Understanding community.  (pp.
 168-201)

10/14  Needs Assessment 

Acosta, O., & Toro, P. A. (2000).  Let’s ask the homeless people themselves: A needs assessment
 based on a probability sample of adults.  American Journal of Community Psychology,
 28(3), 343-366.

Royse, D., Thyer, B. A., Padgett, D. K., & Logan, T. K. (2001). Program evaluation.  Belmont,
 CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.    (Ch. 3:  Needs Assessment, pp. 51-81.)

10/21  Coping and Social Support

Barrera, M. (1986).  Distinctions between social support concepts, measures, and models.
            American Journal of Community Psychology, 14(4), 413-445.

Taylor, S.E., & Stanton, A.L.  (2007).  Coping resources, coping processes, and mental health.
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 3, 377-401.

10/28  Preventing Problem Behavior and Promoting Social Competence

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 10, Prevention and promotion: Current
 and future applications.  (pp. 314-359)

Gatz, M. et al.  (2002).  Promoting mental health in later life.  In L. A. Jason & D. S. Glenwick
 (eds.), Innovative strategies for promoting health and mental health across the life span
 (pp. 272-297).  New York, NY:  Springer Publishing Company.

      Videotape from The World of Abnormal Psychology.  An ounce of prevention.

11/4  Implementing Preventive Interventions

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 11, Prevention and promotion:
  Implementing programs.  (pp. 360-397)

Jason, L. A.  (1998).  Tobacco, drug, and HIV preventive media interventions.  American Journal
 of Community Psychology, 26(2), 151-173.

11/11 Program Evaluation

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 14, Program evaluation and program
 development.  (pp. 466-503)

Posovac, E. J., & Carey, R. G.  (1992).  Program evaluation:  Methods and case studies.
             Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice‑Hall. (Ch. 2:  Planning an evaluation, pp. 23‑41.)

Short, J. L.  (1998).  Evaluation of a substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion
 program for children of divorce.  Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 28(3/4), 139‑155.

11/18  Future of Community Psychology and *** Receive Exam ***

Dalton, J., Elias, M., & Wandersman, A. (2007).  Community psychology:  Linking individuals and
 communities.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.  Chapter 15, Looking ahead.  (pp. 504-520)

Moritsugu, J., Wong, F.Y., & Duffy, K.G. (2009).  Community psychology. (4th Ed.) Boston:
            Allyn & Bacon. Chapter 13, The future of community psychology (pp. 291-302).

11/25 *Thanksgiving Break*

12/2  Student Presentations

12/9  Student Presentations (Last class) and  *** Paper, Progress Notes, and Contract Due ***