“Learning is not obtained by chance: it must be sought for and tended to with diligence.” -Abigail Adams

PSYC 63 CHILD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Spring 2001

Professor: MARY SCHWENDENER HOLT
Office: Stanley 255
Email: SCHWEMA
Ext: 1235

OBJECTIVES
1) To acquire knowledge about the psychological disorders of childhood.
2) To gain an understanding of the issues and problems faced by individuals who have psychological problems and their families.
3) To provide service to Richmond State Hospital through service learning projects.

EVALUATION
Grades will be determined by the following. (Total 650 pts)
1) Exam 1. 50 pts
2) Exam 2. 50 pts
3) Reflection journal. 100 pts.
This journal will consist of 10 typewritten reflections on your service project. Each reflection should be about 1 page. You are to think about your service and to write your thoughts about how your service relates to what we are doing in class that week. These will be collected at Exam 1 (5 pgs due March 13) and again on April 17.
4) Group Service Project Paper/Literature Review. 100 pts. DUE APRIL 20.
Any paper not turned in by the time class begins on April 20 will be late.
10 points will be subtracted for each day. No computer failure/lost disc/printer problem extensions will be given.
5) Presentation. 100 pts.
Each group will give a 20 30 min presentation on their service learning project in class on April 17 or 20. Be as informative and creative as
possible. Tell the class about your project, your research, and your experiences. This presentation may use video, slides, posters, skits, etc.
It should be polished and professional.
6) Discussion questions. Total 100 pts 10 pts each.
Discussion sheets are due at the beginning of each discussion class. Late discussion sheets will not be accepted.
Discussion sessions are listed on the syllabus.
7) Class attendance. 50 pts. Attendance will be taken. In particular, you will be expected to be present and actively participate in the discussions.
8) Class participation 50 pts.
Preparation for class and active participation in discussion will be rewarded.
9) Completion of survey materials (50 pts). 25 pts per set. Due Jan 12 and April 24.
10) Extra credit points may be available as opportunities for experiment participation occur in the department. Participation in experiments will be worth 1 point (5 pts).

COURSE SCHEDULE

1/19T Overview/Papers/Service Learning Project Groups
1/12 F History of Child Psychopathology, Chapter 1
Sheehan, Read 111-116
Discussion #1
SURVEY #1 DUE

1/16T Etiology of Childhood Disorders
Video Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

1/19 F Child Development Review, Chapter 2
Research Methods Review, Chapter 4
Assessing and Diagnosing, Chapter 5
Sheehan, Read 117-182
Discussion #2

1/23T Grant Writing Workshop/Group project day
Sheehan, Read 183-230
Discussion #3

1/26 F Tour: State Hospital
Write Reflection #1
Sheehan, Read 231-286

1/30 T Conduct Disorders, Chapter 8
Sheehan, Read 287-333

2/2 F Conduct Disorders
Youth with CD: a Challenge to be Met (Shamsie and Huchy) (Reserve)
Conduct Disorder (Kazdin) (Reserve)
Practitioner review: Psychosocial Tx for CD in Children (Kazdin) (Reserve)
Sheehan, Read 287-333
Discussion #4 Reflection #2

2/6 T Anxiety Disorders Chapter 6

2/9 F Video: Obsessive Compulsion in Children 616.85227
Discussion #5 Reflection #3

2/13 T Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Chapter 9
Discussion #6 Reflection #4

2/16 F Library Day

2/20 T Service Learning Reflection Day Group Exercise

2/23 F MIDTERM BREAK

2/27 T Reflection: Depression in Childhood, Chapter 7

3/2 F Teen Suicide
Discussion #7 Reflection #5

3/6 T Mental Retardation Chapter 10

3/9 F Film: Bravo Gloria
Discussion #8 Reflection #6

3/13T Exam 1
REFLECTION JOURNALS DUE

3/20 23 SPRING BREAK

3/27 T Autism /Schizophrenia Chapter 12

3/30 F Video: Childhood Autism

Nobody Nowhere Forward, Introduction p79
Discussion #9 (Only discussion sheet is due for this book, we will determine in Class when it should be turned in)

4/3 T Group Project work day
Nobody Nowhere, pp. 80-147
Discussion Reflection #7

Group Project work day
4/6 F Nobody Nowhere, pp. 148-219
Discussion Reflection #8

4/10 Learning Disabilities Chapter 11

4/13 Video: Learning Disabilities. LD 91-92, Part I, Dr. Richard Cooper, 371.92
Discussion #10 Reflection #9

4/17 Eating Disorders Chapter 13

4/20 Video: Secret Life of Mary Margaret 616.8526
Discussion (no discussion sheets due)
Reflection #10
GROUP PAPERS DUE

4/17 Presentations
REFLECTION JOURNALS DUE

4/20 Presentations

4/24 Party w/ State Hospital Unit
SURVEY #2 DUE

5/4 6 Exam Week
Exam 2

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT GUIDELINES

Service Learning Definition
“Service learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of service learning.” (Jacoby, B. 1996. Service learning in higher education: Concepts and practices. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass Publishers, p.5)

Service Learning Objectives
1) To grow in knowledge and understanding of child psychopathology through working with adolescents in the Richmond State Hospital Youth Services Program.
2) To bring the readings alive as you apply theory and didactic learning from class to “real life” situations.
3) To provide service to an agency in the community.

Project Guidelines
The service learning project is an integral component of this class. The class will be divided into groups of 3 4 individuals. Due to the size of the class, it may not be possible to insure each individual’s first choice of service project. You may negotiate with others to change groups but these trades must be made by Fri, January 22.

Each individual will volunteer 20 hours at RSH. These hours should be recorded on the service hours form. While doing your work, your additional task is to learn about the agency and how it interacts with and provides services for adolescents. To do this you may need to conduct interviews or do research on the agency. You should have a very clear understanding of this agency and its strengths and areas for improvement by the end of the project.

Paper Guidelines
This is not a short paper. Since it is a group project, I expect it to be 25 40 pages. Things which should be included in the paper:

1) A detailed description of the youth services program (this may include, but is not limited to, budget, history, news clippings of historical interest, programs, population served, etc.).
2) A detailed description of your project at the agency.
3) Reflections on your project. This may be done as individual reflections or as a group.
3) A short (5 8 pgs) literature review of the psychological literature pertaining to your project. For instance, if you are working on a recreational project, you might review the recreation therapy literature regarding the helpfulness of similar projects. If you are working on a wall mural, you might consult the art therapy literature.
4) Integration of your literature review findings into your particular project. This part of the paper should tie theory, didactic learning, and your experiences at the hospital together.
5) Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the youth services program.
6) Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of your particular project.
7) Use APA style and the APA guidelines to write the paper and complete your references. A paper writing handout will be given in class.

Potential Projects

• Program Evaluation of Token Economy
  Paper researching token economy program. This will be a literature review. Little or no contact with clients. 
• Wall Mural (Dining Room/ School)
  Work with clients and staff to design and paint a mural in the dining room at 416B. Will need to work closely with staff to insure no gang motifs. 
• Web Site
  Design/Develop a web site for the adolescent program. Will need to gather information from staff regarding what they want in their web site. Little contact with clients. 
• Social Club/Recreation
  Design and carry out special recreational programs for residents. Will need to work closely with Corey Laughlin RT. Programs should go above and beyond what is already being done. Use group strengths (Cooking class, Hobbies, Sports, Photography 416 has a Dark Room). This work will need to occur primarily
  Saturdays/Weekends/Evenings 
• Social Activity
  Plan/Carry out one big social activity. Related to above, would need to coordinate with Corey, would occur nights or weekends.
  
  
• Room Decoration
  Work with individual clients to help them fix up their rooms. Design and carry out individualized room decorations. Would need to work with staff. Working
  individually with clients. 
• Design Data Base Program for Adolescent Program Secretary
  Design a program needed to track the effects of program. Knowledge of excel important. Would involve interfacing with staff, little client interaction. 
• Graph Behaviors for Tx plans
  Develop computer program. Work with the behavioral clinician for the school. Little client contact.
  
  
• Teach A Special Subject
  Fossils, Hobbies, Astronomy, Photography. Probably in the evenings or weekends. Would need to interface with RT staff and school.

Questions for Reflection Journals and Groups

Each week as you complete your service, you should reflect on the following questions. Please write one typed page regarding your service this week. You don’t need to answer these questions exactly but they should be a guide.

1. What, exactly are you doing?
2. What do you like about your experience?
3. What is the most frustrating thing about your experience?
4. How has your service learning changed your attitude toward the community? (Or not?)
5. Are you making a worthwhile contribution? If not, what could you do in the next few weeks to change this?

These journals will be due on March 13 and April 17.