The Department of Social Work offers the Certificate in Child Welfare Practice designed to prepare students to provide services to at-risk children and families through a wide range of public and private agencies. The competency-based training curriculum includes content on all areas of child welfare practice including historical issues in child welfare, child welfare policy, assessment, interviewing techniques, intervention planning, and referral processes related to meeting federal goals of safety, permanence, and well-being, in addition to foster care and/or adoption. Degree seeking students at the University of North Alabama may take required and elective courses leading to the Certificate. Social Work majors may take courses needed to complete the Certificate in Child Welfare within the normal BSW requirements and need not extend the length of the student’s degree program. Eligible Social Work majors will receive a stipend during their field practicum through the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program. Credits towards meeting BSW requirements can be double-counted toward earning the Child Welfare Certificate. Non-degree seeking students may qualify for a “Professional Certificate,” which does not include the internship, but requires one year of work experience in the field of child welfare practice.

Requirements for a Certificate in Child Welfare Practice

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
SW 230	Introduction to Social Work	3
SW 315	Human Behavior and Social Environment I : Infancy to Young Adulthood	3
SW 410	Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, and Social Work Practice: What Works?	3
SW 425	Child Welfare Practices and Policies	3
or SW 420	Services to Families and Children
SW 199	Volunteer Service and Community Engagement (Child Welfare Practicum)	3
Select one course from the following:		3
ECE 262	Child Development
PY 242	Psychology of Adjustment
SW/SO 403	Gerontology
SW 415	Ethical Decision-Making
Total Hours		18