Enhancing Social Work Curricula With Child Welfare Practice and Policy Resources

Child Welfare Information Gateway has curated a selection of resources to help schools of social work enhance syllabus content and curricula with resources designed by child welfare experts and specifically aimed at complementing course content found within child welfare policy and practice courses.

These selected resources elevate the best practices in engaging children, youth, families, and communities and broaden students' understanding of the impact of State and Federal legislation.

Each resource includes recommended connections to the Council on Social Work Education 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). We also encourage students and educators to visit the Information Gateway Library Catalog to access the nation's largest federally funded child welfare-focused collection of peer-reviewed, scholarly resources.

Stay connected with the latest news and events

SubscribeEnter your email to manage your subscription

How to Use These Resources

Educators and curriculum developers are encouraged to do the following:

  • Integrate into course design by using readings, tools, and case studies to enrich syllabi and classroom discussions
  • Align with EPAS competencies by mapping resources to specific competencies such as policy, practice, and ethical decision-making
  • Enhance field education by applying these materials in field seminars or supervision to bridge theory and practice
  • Support faculty development by using these resources in training sessions to strengthen EPAS-aligned teaching strategies
  • Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption

    Applicable to Competencies 4 and 9

  • How Federal Legislation Impacts Child Welfare Service Delivery

    Applicable to Competencies 6, 7, and 8

  • State Guides and Manuals

    Applicable to Competencies 2 and 5

  • The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System

    Applicable to Competencies 1 and 5

  • Parental Substance Use: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals

    Applicable to Competencies 1, 5, and 9

  • Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Substance Use Among Youth in Foster Care

    Applicable to Competencies 1, 5, and 9

  • Preparing Children and Youth for Adoption or Other Family Permanency

    Applicable to Competencies 6 and 8

  • Forensic Interviewing: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals

    Applicable to Competencies 1 and 7

  • Motivational Interviewing: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals

    Applicable to Competencies 6, 7, and 8

  • Belonging Matters - Helping Youth Explore Permanency

    Applicable to Competencies 6, 7, and 8

  • Working With Kinship Caregivers

    Applicable to Competencies 6, 7, and 8