How Social Work Education Can Prepare Social Workers to Make a Difference in Child Welfare

Child welfare workers are responsible and accountable to provide a variety of services that require a vast array of knowledges and skills related to complex individual, family, and community situations. However, there is a gap... [ view full abstract ]

Child welfare workers are responsible and accountable to provide a variety of services that require a vast array of knowledges and skills related to complex individual, family, and community situations. However, there is a gap in the research on how social work education programs are helping to prepare social workers to make a difference and be successful in this field of practice.  In Canada, child welfare services are delivered through a highly legalized and bureaucratic system that presents unique challenges for social workers between helping and controlling.Visible minorities and Indigenous families are overrepresented and there is a need to identify more effective ways that are culturally appropriate to improve the preparation of social workers. Barriers continue to exist between anti-oppressive frameworks and practice. This paper presents a review of the literature on this topic and a proposed PhD study to explore the relationship between social work education and preparation for work in child welfare through a critical and Indigenous theory lens.  A small pilot study will be presented that involved interviewing recent social work graduates who are working in child welfare and their perspectives of the strengths and areas for improvement for social work education.  Key findings included the relevance of experiential learning and the need for more attention to self-care, cultural awareness, managing authority, media relations, peer conflict, and working within a complex system.