This course introduces students to the legal principles that govern the practice of social work technicians and develops their ability to intervene while respecting the rights of individuals. Students examine the foundations of human rights and freedoms, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms of Québec, and their application to social work practice in areas such as dignity, equality, privacy, and protection from discrimination. The course also explores key concepts in human rights and family law, including legal capacity, informed consent, protective regimes, parental responsibilities, and the Youth Protection Act. Students learn about the rights of users of the health and social services system, confidentiality, client records, free and informed consent, and mandatory reporting obligations in cases of abuse or situations compromising a person's safety or well-being. Particular emphasis is placed on protecting vulnerable individuals, the professional and ethical responsibilities of social work technicians, and the principles of civil and criminal liability. Finally, students become familiar with basic legal procedures, including the role and responsibilities of practitioners who are called to testify in legal proceedings.

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the community resources available to support individuals and families, enabling them to make appropriate referrals and contribute to effective social work interventions. Students examine the missions, mandates, and services offered by organizations within the health and social services network, community agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private service providers. The course explores the service referral process, collaboration among service providers, and the importance of considering clients' needs, living environments, and support networks when planning interventions. Emphasis is also placed on effective communication with clients, families, and community partners, as well as on developing intervention activities that promote social integration, independence, and improved quality of life. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify, mobilize, and coordinate community resources while fulfilling a key liaison role within the continuum of social services.

This course examines contemporary social problems and their impact on individuals, families, and communities. Students explore the definition of social problems, the criteria used to identify them, and the issues surrounding inequality, collective values, and social responsibility. The course addresses a range of current social issues, including poverty, violence, discrimination, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, homelessness, social exclusion, population aging, and the challenges associated with immigration and integration. Students examine the responses developed by governments, health and social service organizations, and community agencies, while exploring the role of the social work technician as a contributor to social and systemic change. The course also introduces a variety of intervention approaches, including individual, family, community, and structural interventions, as well as strengths-based, anti-oppressive, intercultural, feminist empowerment, crisis intervention, and community mobilization approaches. These learning experiences foster a critical understanding of social realities and prepare students to support interventions that promote autonomy, social participation, and inclusion for individuals and communities.

This course enables students to examine the social context in which individuals live to understand better the factors that influence their circumstances and intervention needs. Students explore the family, health, economic, and social dimensions that shape people's life experiences, including physical and mental health, socioeconomic disadvantage, and public policies aimed at reducing poverty. The course examines the interventions provided by health and social service organizations and community agencies, as well as approaches that support individuals in vulnerable situations. Students also explore the cultural and ethnic diversity of Québec society, the history of immigration, the processes of integration and acculturation, and the challenges associated with cultural diversity. Particular emphasis is placed on developing intercultural competence, adapting communication to individuals from diverse communities, recognizing manifestations of intolerance, and fostering respectful and inclusive relationships. Finally, students learn to identify and mobilize community resources to design interventions that are responsive to the social and cultural realities of the individuals they support.

This course develops students' understanding of mental health and addiction issues to support effective social work interventions with diverse client populations. Students examine the key determinants of health, the biopsychosocial factors that influence mental health, and the distinctions between mental health and mental illness. The course explores common and severe mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and mental health issues across the lifespan. Students also examine substance use disorders and behavioural addictions, along with their impact on individuals, families, and communities. Particular emphasis is placed on social perceptions and stigma, recovery-oriented practice, prevention, and psychosocial intervention strategies. Through case studies, simulations, and role-playing exercises, students develop assessment and support skills while reflecting on their own perceptions and attitudes, fostering an inclusive, ethical, and collaborative approach to professional practice within the health and social services network.

This course examines the causes, dynamics, and consequences of violence and social exclusion, as well as their impact on individuals, families, and communities. Students explore the concepts of violence, marginalization, and stigma through a systemic perspective, with an emphasis on the risk and protective factors associated with these social realities. The course examines various forms of violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and financial exploitation, along with the relational dynamics that contribute to their occurrence and persistence. Students also explore issues related to bullying and school violence, prevention strategies, the early identification of abuse and neglect, and the effects of victimization. The course develops intervention skills for working with victims, individuals who have engaged in violent behaviour, and people experiencing social exclusion, including youth, older adults, marginalized individuals, people involved in the justice system, and those experiencing homelessness. Particular emphasis is placed on housing, employability, and social reintegration, as well as intervention approaches that promote support, autonomy, and social participation.

This course develops the knowledge and skills required to understand and intervene with families from a systemic, ethical, and professional perspective. Students examine the diversity of family structures and analyze the realities of families in Québec, including family functioning, roles, relationships, rules, and living conditions. The course explores the major theories and models of family and couple intervention, family life cycles, and the social factors that influence family functioning, including inequality, poverty, social exclusion, immigration, and social relationships. Students learn to assess family situations, develop systemic hypotheses, establish intervention goals, and collaborate effectively with families, support networks, and community partners. The course introduces intervention tools and techniques such as genograms, social network maps, eco-maps, circular questioning, reframing, and task assignments. Students also develop skills in assessing family needs, formulating recommendations, developing and monitoring intervention plans, coordinating community resources, and evaluating intervention outcomes. Particular emphasis is placed on the limits of family intervention, reflective professional practice, documentation and record keeping, and the ethical issues associated with working with families and their support networks.

This course develops the knowledge and skills required to plan, deliver, and evaluate social work interventions with groups in a professional, ethical, and inclusive manner. Students examine the foundations of group social work, including its values, objectives, approaches, and practices, as well as the characteristics of groups, such as structure, roles, leadership, communication patterns, and stages of group development. The course explores different types of groups, including open, closed, support, and self-help groups, and examines intervention strategies tailored to diverse participant needs and client populations. Students learn techniques for managing conflict, encouraging participation and engagement, and fulfilling the role of the social work technician as a facilitator, advocate, and agent of change within group settings. The course covers each stage of the group intervention process, from needs assessment and planning to group implementation, facilitation, evaluation, and termination. Particular emphasis is placed on working with multicultural groups, involuntary participants, and the ethical issues associated with group practice. Students also develop the documentation and professional record-keeping skills required to support effective group interventions.

This course develops the knowledge and skills required to understand, support, and participate in community-based social work interventions that promote collective action, social justice, and civic engagement. Students examine the concepts of community, community dynamics, and community needs, as well as the social, economic, cultural, and structural factors that shape the experiences of individuals and groups. The course explores a variety of community intervention approaches, including community development, community organizing, advocacy, empowerment, Paulo Freire's critical consciousness approach, and systems and ecological perspectives. Students examine the role of the social work technician as a facilitator, mediator, community organizer, and catalyst for change while developing strategies to encourage citizen participation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. The course also develops skills in community needs assessment, collective action planning, participatory evaluation, funding proposal development, and intersectoral partnership building. Particular emphasis is placed on interventions in urban, rural, Indigenous, and multicultural communities, as well as on issues related to social exclusion, systemic oppression, intersectionality, and social justice. Students also reflect on the professional responsibilities and ethical considerations associated with community social work practice.

This course develops the knowledge and skills required to intervene safely and effectively with individuals, families, and groups experiencing crisis situations. Students examine the nature of crises, their stages and manifestations, and the risk and protective factors that influence their development. The course emphasizes identifying early warning signs and applying prevention, de-escalation, safety, and post-crisis intervention strategies appropriate to a variety of practice settings. Students learn to assess the physical, verbal, and non-verbal dimensions of a crisis, evaluate levels of risk, and respond appropriately to emergency situations, including suicidal or homicidal crises, situations involving a child's safety or well-being, and mandatory reporting obligations. The course also introduces intervention tools and protocols, including Québec's P-38/P-39 emergency procedures, no-harm agreements, intervention planning, and the legislative and ethical framework governing the exceptional use of control measures. Finally, students develop strategies for stress management, preventing professional burnout, and maintaining a professional approach that promotes safety, respect, and effective support during crisis intervention.

This course develops the knowledge and skills required to intervene effectively in socio-legal settings while respecting individual rights, professional responsibilities, and the principles of social justice. Students examine the role of the social work technician in a variety of socio-legal practice settings, including services for victims, vulnerable individuals, and people involved in the justice system. The course explores the principles of identifying, protecting, and promoting individual rights to prevent crises, reduce risks to safety and well-being, and improve access to appropriate services. Students examine issues related to intimate partner violence, professional responsibilities for assessment and mandatory reporting, and social rehabilitation practices for adults serving criminal sentences. The course also provides an overview of the organization of socio-legal services, the standards and professional frameworks that guide practice, and the analysis of situations that may cause harm to individuals, groups, or communities, particularly those involving social injustice, barriers to services, and the quality of interventions. Students develop skills in assessing risk and vulnerability, establishing effective helping relationships in socio-legal contexts, and designing, implementing, and evaluating advocacy and rights-based intervention strategies.

This capstone course enables students to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes developed throughout the Social Work Intervention program. Through the design and completion of an intervention project, students draw upon individual, group, and community intervention methods to analyze a social issue and develop an evidence-informed response that addresses the needs of a specific practice setting. The course emphasizes the integration of theory, research, and professional practice by guiding students through identifying a social issue, developing intervention goals, and selecting an appropriate analytical framework, methodology, and intervention approach. Students strengthen their abilities in information gathering and analysis, intervention planning, feasibility assessment, and outcome evaluation. The course also promotes reflective practice by encouraging students to critically evaluate their interventions, refine their strategies, and further develop their professional identity. Finally, students apply the documentation and professional writing standards of social work by preparing professional records and reports.

This observation practicum provides students with an introduction to the professional role of the social work technician and offers firsthand exposure to a variety of social work practice settings. Students observe professional responsibilities, daily tasks, expected competencies, and the ethical behaviours and attitudes required in practice. The practicum emphasizes observing interactions between social work technicians and clients while allowing students to apply their communication skills with individuals receiving services and begin collaborating with members of interdisciplinary teams. Students also gain an understanding of the practicum site's mission, mandate, organizational structure, services, and client populations. Through guided observation and case analysis, students apply professional observation techniques, examine social issues affecting clients, identify factors influencing individual situations, and develop appropriate intervention strategies. This experience establishes a meaningful connection between classroom learning and professional social work practice in the field.

This practicum provides students with the opportunity to apply and integrate the personal, interpersonal, and professional competencies required of a social work technician in a supervised practice setting. Working directly with individuals and families, students participate in the intervention process by conducting intake and assessment activities, gathering information through interviews, developing systemic hypotheses, establishing intervention goals, formulating recommendations, and contributing to the development and implementation of intervention plans (Individual Intervention Plan, Individualized Service Plan, and Individualized Interdisciplinary Intervention Plan). The practicum strengthens students' observation, communication, assessment, and intervention skills while fostering an understanding of the practice setting and collaboration with supervisors, community partners, and interdisciplinary teams. Students learn to mobilize appropriate resources, evaluate barriers, resistance, and intervention outcomes, and maintain professional documentation, including progress notes, reports, and case closure summaries. Particular emphasis is placed on ethical decision-making, confidentiality, professional conduct, and adherence to the standards and values governing social work practice.

This final practicum enables students to consolidate and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required to practise as a social work technician. Completed in a professional practice setting, the practicum emphasizes social work interventions with groups and communities while deepening students' understanding of the organization's mission, available resources, and collaborative partnerships. Students participate in all stages of the intervention process, including intake and assessment, information gathering, the development of systemic hypotheses, the establishment of intervention goals, the formulation of professional assessments, and the planning and delivery of appropriate interventions. The practicum further develops students' observation, communication, facilitation, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. Students gain experience developing and implementing intervention plans (Individual Intervention Plan, Individualized Service Plan, and Individualized Interdisciplinary Intervention Plan), coordinating community resources, evaluating barriers, resistance, and intervention outcomes, and maintaining accurate professional documentation, including progress notes, reports, and case closure summaries. Particular emphasis is placed on ethical practice, respect for clients, confidentiality, and adherence to the professional standards and values of the social work technician profession.