Child welfare professionals spend their days engaging in a multitude of tasks, from counseling parents and documenting investigations to scheduling meetings and attending court hearings. While no two days are ever the same, this page of resources provides a general overview of investigating allegations, removing children, and collaborating with local, State, and Federal resources.
Curriculum Materials
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (2017)
Provides links to online research-based, Pennsylvania-focused workshops that promote the implementation of the Pennsylvania Standards for Child Welfare Practice and Child and Family Services Review outcomes.
A Day in the Life of a Child Welfare Specialist (PDF - 296 KB)
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (2013)
Provides guidance on what day-to-day activities may look like as a caseworker in the State of Oklahoma.
Foster Parent Preservice Training
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (2019)
Provides training for child welfare workers in Wisconsin on basic child welfare concepts through nine modules.
Frontline Workers in the State Child Protective System: Perspectives on Factors That Impact Effectiveness and Efficiency of Child Protective Work
Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (2018)
Surveys the workforce in Maine and covers many areas, including what their work is like, safety issues, satisfaction, burnout/secondary stress, and training.
The Social Worker’s Role in Preventing Violence Against Children
Rutgers University
Illustrates statistics behind child abuse and neglect in the United States and how child welfare professionals can help children who have been a victims of maltreatment and help prevent further abuse in the future.
Social Workers Job Outlook
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019)
Explains information on duties, education and training, pay, and career outlook for a child welfare social worker.