If you’re passionate about supporting children, youth and families, the Child and Family Practice path will prepare you to work on the front lines of social work practice across the family life cycle. In this path, you will:
- Gain the knowledge and skills needed to partner with individuals and families as they navigate challenges, transitions and growth.
- Be prepared to provide a wide range of services, including family counseling, marital therapy, parent education, school-based services, therapy with children and adolescents, and child welfare practice.
- Explore critical topics such as neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, and school social work—ensuring you graduate ready to meet the diverse needs of today’s families.
Advanced elective options allow you to tailor your MSW experience to your personal interests and career goals, helping you build the expertise you need for your career in social work.
Related Opportunities
- Advanced Standing
- Certificates
- Combined graduate study (3+2 social work)
- Dual degrees
- Interprofessional education
Sample Courses
For a complete list of courses and course descriptions, visit the General Bulletin.
- “Family System Interventions”
- “Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy”
- “Social Work Practice with Substance Use Disorders”
- “Social Work Practice in Mental Health: Children and Adolescents”
Examples of Field Education Sites
Possible field education placement sites for the Child and Family Practice path include:
- AmericaSCORES
- Bellefaire JCB
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
- Catholic Charities of Lake & Geauga Counties
- Child Guidance & Family Solutions
- Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
- Lakewood City Schools
- Euclid City School District
- Ohio Guidestone
- Ohio Department of Youth Services
- Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center