Families and Children
In today’s complex society, families are more vulnerable than ever to issues, such as poverty, homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction. In these situations, the entire family unit can be left in need of services and support. Social workers, trained to work in direct practice with families, can act as the support families need to rise above adversity and get their lives back on track after crisis.
In the Families and Children concentration, you will learn to prevent crises that can damage families through assessment, resource coordination, counseling, support and advocacy. You will explore strategies to affect the entire family unit, including parents, children and legal guardians, and consider ways to work in the service of improving their well-being and quality of life.
The Families and Children concentration will prepare you to:
- Assist families in crisis
- Counsel families to find better solutions to their problems
- Place abused children in loving homes
- Find employment and housing for homeless families
- Help pregnant women, adoptive parents and adopted children navigate the adoption system
Social workers, trained in the Families and Children concentration, work in a range of settings:
- Mental health clinics
- Juvenile courts
- Child protection agencies
- Community-based organizations
With the Families and Children concentration, you can become a social worker who helps families stay strong.
MSW@USC Student, Families and Children Concentration
- Advanced Theories and Interventions With Children and Adolescents
In this course, you will advance your knowledge and clinical skills working with children and adolescents. Coursework examines problems affecting children, including developmental derailments and disruptions. In this video, USC professor Wendy Smith explains the importance of early attachments in childhood and how these attachments impact later relationships, development and adaptation.
- Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions With Families
Advances students’ knowledge and clinical skills working with diverse urban families experiencing various stressors. Exploration and application of a range of family therapy models.
- Merging Policy, Planning and Research for Change in Families
Development and evaluation of service programs for children and families, incorporating social welfare policy, macro practice and research skills.
As a student in the Families and Children concentration, you will complete one of your field placement requirements at a site in, or near, your community that supports your concentration choice and your career goals. You can learn more about field placement here.
If you are ready to speak with us about your career in social work, contact an admissions counselor at 1.877.700.4MSW or email@example.com to get started.