MD543: Children at Risk (4 units)
Doug
McConnell, Associate Professor of Leadership and Dean of the School of
Intercultural Studies
Spring 2005 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.
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.
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.
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.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM:
Elective in SIS. Meets Globalization requirement for MAT.
FINAL EXAM: Yes