Social Work Certificate in Child Welfare Services
The Texas Permanency Outcomes Project
The Social Work Certificate in Child Welfare Services is awarded through the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. This certificate is designed for employees at child placing agencies, shelters, residential treatment centers, and group homes; attorneys, judges, and other judicial staff; mental health providers; employees at other support agencies; and volunteers with any of the above agencies.
REQUIREMENTS
Post-certificate survey – All individuals admitted to the program will be asked to complete a 20-minute post-training survey after completing all courses.
Prerequisite courses – See list of prerequisite courses.
Certificate Program at a Glance:
Social Work Certificate in Child Welfare Services
For professionals working at child placing agencies in Texas.
3 months to complete:
9 hours of prerequisites
(4 online, 5 in-person)
9 hours of certificate courses
(3 online, 6 in-person)
Regional cohort enrollment includes:
An online learning community
In-person courses taught in 2-3 days
CEUs for all course hours
Child Welfare Services Coursework
Objectives:
- Demonstrate an understanding of ACEs and become familiar with the findings of the ACEs study
- Understand the profound impact that positive childhood experiences have on promoting resilience and buffering ACEs
- Apply the knowledge of ACEs and protective factors to promote resilience with families involved in child welfare
Time: 1-hour online course
Objectives:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core values of trauma-informed care and its application in child welfare
- Engage in discussion of trauma-informed leadership and agency practices
- Develop strategies for implementing trauma-informed care into practice at the practitioner and agency level
Time: 1.5-hour online course
Objectives:
- Appreciate the way relationships and attachment contribute to the organization of the brain
- Identify protective factors and practices that contribute to healthy attachment
- Understand the factors that can influence a caregiver’s ability to create and promote healthy attachment
Time: 1.5-hour online course
Objectives:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of brain development
- Understand the core concepts of developmental trauma
- Understand how trauma impacts children and families involved in child protection and how to apply the information to better engage families
Time: 3-hour in-person course
Objectives:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of relational and legal permanence
- Identify the impact of relational and legal permanence on child and family wellbeing
- Determine strategies to increase rates of permanence and relational networks for children
Time: 2-hour in-person course
Objectives
- Identify one’s personal and professional values and the specific behaviors that align with those values
- Begin to understand how values clarification is essential to the development of resiliency
- Explore how shame is relevant to child welfare practice
Time: 2-hour in-person course
STATEWIDE CAPACITY BUILDING
TXPOP will provide trainings and support to professionals working in child welfare with the development of a professional certificate in child welfare from the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. TXPOP is also developing a multimedia campaign for caregivers on how to engage families and ensure that the child’s voice is at the heart of the work.
