Brown School > Resources & Initiatives > Post-Master's Certificate > Parenting and Family Strengthening Approaches to Enhance Child Well Being

Parenting and Family Strengthening Approaches to Enhance Child Well-Being

This program is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and advanced skills necessary to engage and intervene with families in meaningful, effective ways.

Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships are important contributors to the health and well-being of children. Yet, for many children, home does not provide the type of environment necessary for healthy development. Participants will develop a deep understanding of historical, theoretical, and practice perspectives on parenting and family processes. Emphasis is on major intervention approaches utilized with families and children, including parent management training and multi-family groups.

Applications will be accepted through May 10, 2019.

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Is this program for me?

This program is intended for individuals who already hold a master’s degree and have a demonstrated interest in expanding their knowledge of working effectively with vulnerable children, youth, and families - either to grow within their current setting or be prepared for practice with this population. You do not have to be an alum of the Brown School to apply for consideration.

The group will meet intensively over three Friday-Saturdays for skill-building. There are modest reading assignments of related journal articles between the class meetings.

At the close of the program, participants will better be able to:

Apply evidence-based engagement practices to support the involvement of caregivers in parenting and family strengthening programs
Use advanced knowledge regarding parenting and family processes linked to positive child outcomes
Understand the complex intersection of perspectives influenced by race, ethnicity, worldview on parenting, family life and help-seeking

Successful completion of the certificate program includes developing and presenting an action plan to introduce or bolster programming for parents and families. The action plan can focus on either the participant's current place of employment or a program they would like to develop in the future.

How to Apply

A completed application will include:

Online application form, including statement of purpose (300-500 words)
Submission of your current resume
Official transcript transmitted from your master’s program, by mail or electronically. If you have more than one graduate degree, please send the transcript from the degree most closely related to the post-master's program for which you are applying.

Mailed transcripts: Official university transcripts can be mailed by the issuing institution in a sealed envelope to:
         Brown School Professional Development
         Washington University Campus Box 1196
         One Brooking Drive
         St. Louis, MO 63130

Electronic transcriptions: Official electronic transcripts should be routed to profdev@brownschool.wustl.edu.

Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis. Complete applications (including official transcripts) must be received by May 10, 2019.

Admission prerequisite: Applicants must hold a master’s degree from an accredited university.

Meet Your Instructors

Mary McKay
Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Dean McKay’s academic experience connects deeply to both social work and public health. She has significant expertise in child mental health services and implementation research methods, and she has received substantial federal funding for research focused on meeting the mental health and health prevention needs of youth and families impacted by poverty.

Trish Kohl
Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Social Work Brown School
PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Patricia “Trish” Kohl’s scholarship is focused on strengthening, implementing, and sustaining evidence-based interventions that improve the quality of care for vulnerable families. Through her research, which is informed by years of clinical practice with children and families, she seeks to close the gap between research and community-based practice.

Strengthen your degree and advance your opportunities.

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