MD543:
Children at Risk (4 units)
Doug McConnell, Associate Professor of Leadership and
Dean of the School of Intercultural Studies
Spring 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
From the AIDS orphan to the child soldier, every
day kids all over the world struggle in unfair situations that place them at
risk. This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the problems
these children face and equip students with the tools they need to show them
the holistic love of Christ. Course topics will include an overview of the
major risk factors that affect children, theological foundations necessary to
work with them long-term, and presentation of best practices drawn from two
millennia of the Church's effective work with children.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Acquire the
basic tools for understanding the biblical and theological principles for
mission to children at risk.
• Develop awareness of a Christian
response informed by an understanding of the problems and best practices of
mission to children at risk.
COURSE FORMAT:
Class will meet
weekly for three hours throughout the quarter. A presentation and discussion
format will be used, allowing time for small group interaction in which
students will have opportunity to evaluate principles and practices of mission
to children at risk. The course is team
taught with input from academicians & practitioners.
REQUIRED READING: (Required reading in each text will be
identified in syllabus.)
Haugen, Gary.
Good News About Injustice: A
Witness of Courage in a Hurting World.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Hecht, Tobias. At Home in the Street:
Street children of Northeast Brazil. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press, 1998.
Magnuson, Norris. Salvation in the slums:
Evangelical social work 1865-1920. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1990.
McDonald, Patrick. Children at risk:
Networks in action. Monrovia: MARC Publications, 2001.
Miles, Glenn & Wright, Josephine-Joy, Celebrating
Children. Carlisle, Cumbria: Paternoster Press, 2003.
Myers, Glenn. Children in Crisis. Cumbria,
UK: OM Publishing, 1998.
Stephenson, Paul & Miles, Glenn, Child
Development Study Pack. Tear Fund, UK.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Garbarino, James, Children and Families in the Social Environment. New York, NY: Aldine De Gruyter, 1992.
Kilbourn, Phyllis, ed., Healing the
Children of War. Monrovia, CA: MARC
Publishing, 1995.
Ibid, Street Children: A Guide to
Effective Ministry. Monrovia, CA:
MARC Publishing, 1997.
Ibid, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS. Monrovia, CA: MARC Publishing, 2002.
Kilbourn, Phyllis & McDermid, Marjorie, eds., Sexually exploited children: Working to protect and heal. Monrovia:
MARC, 1998.
Speakman, Danielle. Nothing but a thief. Sovereign World, 2002.
Zuck, Roy B., Precious in His Sight. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. An
annotated bibliography on 1300 pages of required reading.
2. A risk focus paper (500-750 words)
detailing initial research into a category of children at risk.
3. A case study (2,000 words) of a
children-at-risk project.
4. A final 4,000-word paper researching
an aspect of children at risk with implications for mission.
5. A final examination
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Elective in SIS. Meets
Globalization requirement for MAT.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes