There is an increasing demand for trained professionals who understand the complex challenges faced by today's children and their families, many of whom lack adequate access to education, healthcare, and other basic services. The Child Advocacy and Policy major provides students with an interdisciplinary foundation that incorporates the fields of psychology, social work, and the law, to prepare our graduates to serve vulnerable children and their families.
Our curriculum includes the following content areas:
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Child abuse and neglect, child protection, and the child welfare system
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Disparities, disproportionalities, and biases in human service work
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Trauma-informed care
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Aging out of foster care
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Child and human trafficking
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Undocumented, unaccompanied, and immigrant children
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LBGTQ youth needs and human service systems
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Juveniles in the criminal justice system
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Forensic interviewing of children
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Best approaches and practices to working with vulnerable children and families
In addition, all students complete an internship, which provides students with critical experience in the field and helps make them more competitive in the job market. We also expose students to current professionals in the field and provide them with job readiness preparation and job coaching.
The Child Advocacy and Policy curriculum equips graduates with advanced knowledge and skills to promote the well-being of children and their families in a variety of settings, including child welfare, healthcare, education, law enforcement, human trafficking, immigration, family violence, legislative staff, youth mentoring and other community-based organizations. Graduates generally pursue careers in the nonprofit sector, state agencies, county or local agencies, or school systems.
In addition to our major in Child Advocacy and Policy, the department offers minors in Child Advocacy and Policy and also, Social Work.