Study Abroad Programs through the School of Social Work
The School of Social Work has several study abroad programs that offer students an incredible opportunity to examine social welfare policy and social work practice in other countries, as well as a deeper understanding of another culture. Currently the School of Social Work offers courses in Romania, Israel, China and Mexico.
ROMANIA
The aim of the course is to examine the response to growing concerns for vulnerable populations in the years since the initiation of social welfare reforms in Post-Communist Romania and other countries in the former Soviet Bloc. Specifically we look at how countries that are transitioning to democracies are moving from residential care to family-focused, community care. Of particular interest will be minority and disenfranchised groups such as the Roma (gypsy) and children separated from their parents. Students will learn comparative perspectives on social work practice and social welfare structures around the globe, drawing from the academic literature and research initiatives of national and international non-governmental (NGO's) and governmental organizations. The emergence of promising practices are studied using a framework that incorporates common elements of need for various risk groups across the life cycle, and highlights preventative and home-based care over institutional care that can be applied across borders. The framework includes: policies and laws, the structure of programs and services, human resource capacity, and outcome measures and evaluation. Students will have an opportunity to integrate the classroom learning into practice through a service learning experience in a community-based organization.
For more information about study abroad to Romania, visit the Study Abroad website or contact the program leader, Rebecca Davis, Director of the Center for International Social Work at redavis@ssw.rutgers.edu.
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ISRAEL Concentrating on organizational and community issues in the human and social services and cultural diversity, the program will include field visits to governmental and non-governmental organizations in Beer Sheva, Arad, Eilat, and Jerusalem, among others.
For more information on Study Abroad to Israel, visit the Study Abroad website at studyabroad.rutgers.edu or contact the program leader, Bert Goldberg at bgoldberg@ssw.rutgers.edu. | 
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CHINA The
aims of the course are to introduce students to the social welfare
system in China, including the growing field of social work practice,
and to examine social welfare issues and challenges China is now facing
in response to its rapid economic development, strict one-child policy,
and other issues. Students will explore comparative perspectives on
social welfare policies and social work practice between China and the
United States, drawing on the academic literature, research initiatives,
and site visits to various organizations and agencies. Click here to download the PDF flyer from the May 2011 trip, or visit Rutgers Study Abroad for more information. | 
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