Course Information

Course title:

Addicted Family Interventions

Course number:

DAAC 2307.085

Course description:

This course is delivered via Blackboard Vista.  This course provides an introduction to the family as a dynamic system focusing on the effects of addiction pertaining to family roles, rules and behavior patterns. Discussion will include the impact of mood-altering substances and behaviors, and therapeutic alternatives as they relate to the family from a multicultural and transgenerational perspective

Professor's Information

Name:

Dr. Kathryn Miller

Email:

kmiller@alamo.edu

Office location:

Moody Learning Center 678

Office hours:

By appointment

Phone:

210.486.1265

YOUR COMPUTER and YOU: Important!

Computer Use :

Students should only take this course if they have convenient access to a computer and a broadband connection. Trying to take an Internet course without a reliable, updated computer is like a plumber trying to do her job without a wrench. It may work, but the outcome will not be worth the struggle. Students should have basic computer skills such as surfing the Internet, downloading attachments, and emailing. Students are responsible for remediating any technical problems encountered.

Web Access Policy:

Students are responsible for making sure their computers are configured to use the features of Blackboard Vista. Students should have Microsoft Word (not WordPerfect), Adobe (to read .pdf files) and Powerpoint. They should be able to view video files.

Communication With Professor

Two-Way, Weekly Communication Expected:

Students are expected to communicate weekly with the professor, via the courseroom Mail feature. Students are expected to reply in a timely manner to messages sent by the professor. There is no "hiding in the back of the room" in this course. It is not possible to successfully complete this course by simply submitting work products while ignoring the rest of your learning community.

Communicate Inside Courseroom :

Let's communicate WITHIN THE Blackboard COURSEROOM. If the courseroom is down, then use my external email address: kmiller@alamo.edu. You may also call me, at 210.486.1265. I value communication with you. If you have questions or concerns, I will normally reply within 2 business days.

Textbooks

Required reading:

Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy: A Treatment Improvement Protocol: 39, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004, Download it free from the web: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat5.chapter.70382 or call 1-800-729-6686 to order a free copy.

Course Content

Content:

Role of the family in addictions. Introduction to family systems theory. Family survival roles and crisis interventions. Specific applications to family systems. Family screening and treatment. Special population issues and the family.

Learning Objectives

Course goals:

1. Discuss and explain the family as a dynamic system 2. Explain the effects of addiction on the dynamics of a family system 3. Describe and differentiate between various family treatment processes and their applicability to traditional and nontraditional family systems 4. Discuss the impact of mood altering substances and behaviors as they relate to the family from a multicultural and transgenerational perspective 5. Discuss the role of the family in the addictive and recovery process

Policies

Introduction:

The policies included in the San Antonio College Catalog and the San Antonio College Student Handbook will be followed, including those regarding attendance and academic dishonesty. In this course, academic dishonesty of any kind (including unauthorized collaboration on exams) will result in a course grade of F.

Additional information:

All communication in this course is expected to observe rules of "netiquette" (i.e. respect and civility). Diverse opinions are valued and rational discourse is valued.

Course Requirements

Introduction:

This course requires active participation on a regular basis. Being absent from the courseroom for 10 consecutive days, or missing any two (consecutive or not) work products may result in being withdrawn from the course. Failing to communicate with the professor inside the Blackboard Vista courseroom in a timely manner may result in being withdrawn from the course.

Requirements:

Each week, complete assigned work (e.g., quizzes, exams, readings, discussion posts), answer all of your courseroom mail and read all discussion posts.

Course Grade

Points:

A = 90-100 percentage points, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-59.

Grades

Based on some combination of exams and discussion assignments.

Discussion Assignments (Posts)

Initial Posts:

Discussion questions, including the times they are due, appear in the Discussion section of the courseroom.  Discussion assignments require outside reading or other preparation.

Responsive Posts:

A substantive response could include your observations, questions, supportive comments, and thoughts triggered by reading the other person's post.