Brown School › Academics › Master of Social Work › Children, Youth and Families Concentration

Children, Youth and Families Concentration

In the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) concentration, students develop an understanding of how multiple systems impact child development and family functioning over time.

Utilizing evidence-based decision making, students learn to identify and apply sound approaches that bring positive change at the individual, family, agency, community or policy levels. The flexibility of the Children, Youth and Families curriculum allows students to focus on their particular area of interest.

Students are prepared for a broad range of career paths in areas including direct practice, community development, policy, advocacy, research and evaluation or leadership roles within publicly funded or nonprofit agencies.

Working adults who need flexible scheduling may decide to pursue a Part-Time MSW with this concentration. Learn more about the curriculum structure and application process.

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS: 21 CREDITS

  • Theoretical and Empirical Basis for Practice with Children, Youth and Families (3 credits)
  • Policy and Services for Children and Youth (3 credits)
  • Nine credits of practice-focused coursework
  • Management & Leadership of Organizations (3 credits)
  • Social Policy Analysis & Evaluation (3 credits) or Evaluation of Programs and Services (3 credits)

You will also have 9 elective credits, which can be used to broaden expertise in other areas or to pursue additional CYF-related electives.

CONCENTRATION PRACTICUM

The MSW program requires 600 hours of concentration practicum (in addition to 360 hours of foundation practicum). The concentration practicum must take place in an agency that serves children, youth and/or families.

Sample CYF practicum sites include:

  • Annie Malone Children & Family Services
  • Better Family Life
  • Boys Hope Girls Hope
  • Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis
  • City Academy
  • East Side Aligned
  • East St. Louis School District 189
  • Equal Shares Parenting
  • Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
  • Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
  • Parents as Teachers
  • Positive Impacts
  • Unleashing Potential
  • Youth in Need
Nabunya

Concentration Chair

Proscovia Nabunya is an assistant professor at the Brown School where her global research focuses on HIV-stigma reduction interventions, mental health, and family and community-based support systems as protective factors for the development and well-being of children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. Nabunya serves as the co-director of the International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), which works to reduce poverty and improve public health outcomes for children and families in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa.

Featured Graduate

“The Children, Youth and Families concentration has given me the tools I needed to be successful. After graduating I moved to India to start my dream organization, Foster Care India. Fom there, I moved to global child welfare advocacy work. Every day I use skills learned at the Brown School to bridge policy to practice and see healing for our communities.”

—IAN ANAND FORBER-PRATT, MSW ’11 CEO, INSTITUTE FOR CHILD WELFARE INNOVATION; DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ADVOCACY, CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY RELIEF INTERNATIONAL