HSFS 344 Family Stress and Family Resiliency
This course examines how families adapt, resist challenges, and build resilience in response to social and economic pressures. Using family stress theory, ecological systems theory, and community-based models of care, students will explore how policies on child welfare, incarceration, migration, and economic hardship impact family well-being. The course includes diverse cultural perspectives, emphasizing global and Indigenous approaches to family strength. Through discussions, case studies, and applied projects, students will analyze structural inequalities, develop advocacy skills, and explore strategies for supporting families in crisis. This course is relevant students for careers in human services, counseling, and policy analysis.
Prerequisite: HSFS 343 or permission from the instructor.
Prerequisites
Special information
4 Undergraduate credits
Effective January 1, 2026 to present
Learning outcomes
General
- Analyze family resiliency through family stress theory, social control theory, and ecological systems theory.
- Evaluate how social institutions (e.g., education, healthcare, welfare) impact family resilience and vulnerability.
- Critically assess the role of intergenerational trauma, systemic oppression, and racial disparities in shaping family outcomes.
- Discuss diverse perspectives on family resiliency, incorporating global, Indigenous, and collective care approaches that challenge dominant narratives.
- Develop intervention strategies for supporting families in crisis using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches.
- Apply theoretical models of family adaptation to real-world scenarios.
- Demonstrate advocacy skills in addressing family-related policies and systemic barriers to resilience.