Apr 04, 2025

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog | Expires Aug. 2030

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog | Expires Aug. 2030 THIS CATALOG IS ARCHIVED. BE SURE YOU ARE ACCESSING THE MOST ACCURATE CATALOG FOR YOU.

Child Welfare Certificate

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A Child Welfare Certificate is available to BSW graduates. The certificate is a concentrated study and field experience that prepares graduates for a career in child welfare, including foster care, adoption, and protective services. Completion of the certificate with an acceptable field placement will qualify students to waive most of the training requirements for child welfare staff at the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) and at agencies that contract with DHS for these services. Students are still required to complete a minor or the Interdisciplinary Major. Credits toward meeting either of these, as well as the requirement of two Social Work electives, can be double counted toward earning the Child Welfare Certificate.

Graduates who do not have a BSW may apply to the Social Work Department for admission to the Child Welfare Certificate program. Admission is at the discretion of the Social Work Department . Consideration will be given to the degree earned (preferably in the behavioral sciences), course work, and experience in the field of child welfare.

Required Courses (9 cr)

Three courses required.

Field Work Requirement:

BSW students must do their field placement (SW 483 and SW 484 ) in a child welfare setting or an agency serving children, youth, and families approved by the Social Work Department Field Coordinator.

To qualify for waiving most of the required DHS child welfare training, students must do their field placement in program areas of child protective services, foster care, or adoption at a DHS child welfare program or at an agency that contracts with DHS for child welfare services. Students may earn the Child Welfare Certificate without meeting this DHS requirement, but will not be able to waive the DHS training requirements.

Nonmatriculated students may waive this requirement with permission of the Department if they can demonstrate that they are currently employed in an acceptable child welfare position or have at least six months of acceptable experience in child welfare.

Elective Course (6 cr)

Students must select two courses from the following:

SW 311 - Chemical Dependency: Overview 3 cr
SW 314 - Social Work and Sexual Violence 3 cr
SW 490 - Selected Topics 1-4 cr (Special Topics related to serving children, youth, and families.)
or
YS 490 - Selected Topics 1-4 cr (Special Topics related to serving children, youth, and families.)
YS 347 - Problems of American Youth 3 cr
YS 349 - Group Work with Youth 3 cr
YS 405 - Group Facilitation 3 cr