As we begin the 21st century, children and families are faced with complex sets of challenges and social problems. Practitioners, researchers and policy analysts must be trained to integrate a rapidly developing knowledge base to effectively address the needs of this population. The Center for Child and Family Well-Being has as its focus the advancement of knowledge and the application of theory and research to social work practice and policy related to children and families.
The Specialization in Child and Family Wellbeing
The Center in Child and Family Wellbeing offers a specialization in child and family well-being that enables students to take both required and elective courses in this substantive area of study. Social worker practitioners must be prepared to think broadly and, at the same time, to develop a knowledge base of considerable depth that can be called upon to inform practice in rapidly changing social and service delivery contexts. Full and part-time students in all concentrations can participate in this specialization. Specialization students are not required to take any additional courses to meet degree requirements but rather focus their assignments in foundation and practice courses on child and family well-being issues, take the three required electives in child and family related areas, undertake field placements in settings that specifically serve children and families, and participate in a series of integrative seminars. Application to the specialization can be made once a student has been accepted into the M.S.S. program.
The Field Placement
Field-based learning is a central part of social work education. All students enroll in two internships, corresponding with their first and second year of study, and classroom learning is strongly tied to students' field-based experiential activities. Students choosing a specialization in child and family well-being will do both field placements in that substantive area; during their second year they may be grouped together in a student unit for their field placements at one of several field sites. Students in these "units" will have the opportunity to work both with each other, and with a field instructor who has particular expertise and interest in this area of practice.
The Integrative Seminar
Bryn Mawr's social work students are encouraged to think broadly about the field of social work and are trained to consider how the areas of practice, policy, theory and research relate to each other and inform their understanding of a range of issues. Students in the Child and Family Well-being specialization will participate in monthly integrative seminars that focus on a range of practice, policy, and research issues and challenges. Integrative seminars are facilitated by Bryn Mawr faculty, community-based practitioners, field instructors, and doctoral students whose own practice and research emphasizes child and family well-being issues. Students in the specialization will attend these seminars for both years in which they are enrolled in field instruction.
The Colloquia Series
A primary mission of the Center for Child and Family Well-being is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration within the Graduate School , with other departments at Bryn Mawr College , and with professionals within the wider community. This focus is reflective of social work's history in working in multi-disciplinary contexts. The colloquia series is an important bridge between these various constituencies, building connections and relationships within the College and the community. This series of six lectures is open to all students, faculty and staff at Bryn Mawr, as well as practitioners and scholars within the tri-state region who have a special interest in work with children and families.
Professional Development Opportunities
The Center for Child and Family Well-being is committed to reaching out beyond the confines of the campus to facilitate connections between the faculty and the many practitioners in the Philadelphia and Tri-State area. The colloquia series is one mechanism for achieving this commitment. Other strategies include our annual spring conference that each year has attracted over 300 participants from the region to sessions that have addressed such themes as family resiliency, the effects of violence on children, families, and communities, and issues and challenges in child and adolescent mental health. In addition, our Certificate Program in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, offered through our Continuing Education Program, provides yet another forum for professional development.