Ecomap Assignment (Peer-reviewed Draft due July 1, 2016; Final Paper due July 7, 2016)

The ecomap paper will showcase your knowledge and understanding of ecological and family systems theories, as well as your ability to apply the ecomapping skill described in your van Wormer and Besthorn textbook (pp. 122-128) and other course materials. The 6-8 page paper should use 6th edition APA-style format, and be double-spaced (with 1-inch margins) with a title page and reference page. (Note: The ecomap drawing and title/reference pages are not included in the page count).

• Ecomap Drawing: First, you will use your family as the focus of an ecomap and explicitly demonstrate the multiple points of connection between your family and larger social systems. (You will define the term “family” for yourself.) In order to complete this portion of the assignment, you must create an ecomap that addresses, at minimum, the following family-systems interactions: extended family, work, school, local social service agencies, and government. Other relevant systems may include the health care system, religious organizations, hobby/recreational groups, and others. The ecomap may be drawn by hand and scanned as a pdf or jpeg or created using MS Office software, before uploading into a separate assignment portal.

• Ecomap Paper: Second, you will describe the connections between your family and larger social systems illustrated in your ecomap within a paper:

o The first section of your paper will provide an introductory description of your family unit (however you are defining it). This should include information you deem relevant to provide me with an understanding of your family unit and its internal dynamics (e.g., marriages, divorces, ages, births, roles, responsibilities, etc.) (This section should be 1-2 pages maximum.)

o The second section should contain detailed information describing each of the social systems you referred to in your ecomap. You should have at least 1 detailed paragraph for each family-system dynamic. You may use subheadings to delineate between family-system interactions. (This section should be 2-4 pages.)

o The final section should contain a feasible and appropriate intervention and resources specifically addressing at least 1 problematic family-system interaction that you identified in the previous section(s). For example, it is insufficient to state “Person X should receive a referral for therapy related to her binge drinking.” A well-crafted intervention plan should describe the type of therapy, goals for therapy, information about the therapeutic process and relationship, and other relevant details and resources. The intervention and resources should be taken and paraphrased from reputable sources such as peer-reviewed literature, state and federal websites, and so on. Wikipedia is NOT a credible source! You should also not use newspapers, popular press journals, and other secondary sources. (This section should be 2-4 pages.)