MCH Program Information What is MCHSW? | Project Objectives | Subspecialization Information What is MCHSW? Maternal and child health (MCH) social workers are concerned with psychosocial and societal factors that affect the health of infants, children, adolescents and their families. Maternal and child health social workers are employed in a variety of settings and are involved in direct and indirect services. Maternal and child health (MCH) social workers:
Define health (to include mental health) as an active state of wellness and not simply the absence of disease or disability; Maternal and child health social workers are concerned with the whole child, not just the biological and medical aspects of health; are committed to preventing disease and disability in children and youth and promote health and optimal psychosocial functioning; value a public health perspective. Where do MCH social workers work?
MCH social workers are employed in a variety of settings; well child clinics; prenatal care services; neonatal intensive care units; infant stimulation programs; school-based health centers; health maintenance and managed care organizations; child development centers; nutrition and eating disorders programs; injury and violence prevention programs; adolescent health centers; adolescent substance abuse services; services for children with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities ; maternal and pediatric HIV/AIDS centers; child advocacy organizations; state health departments; group homes for pregnant and parenting adolescents, health policy institutes, etc. What do MCH social workers do?
MCH social workers do many things. Their roles are varied. They may provide direct services to children, youth and families or they provide indirect services. Their roles include counselor, case manager, family therapist, team member, health educator, consultant, administrator, program planner, evaluator, community organizer, policy advocate, and researcher. MCH social work practice is guided by the: - value, knowledge and skill base of social work;
- knowledge of the biopsychosocial needs of children and their families;
- knowledge of health care systems;
- knowledge of other systems serving children and their families such as schools, child welfare agencies and community mental health centers;
- public health perspective.
top What Does the Maternal and Child Health Social Work Leadership Project Do? Provides leadership development in maternal and child health social work Provides scholarships for selected MSW students enrolled in the University of Maryland School of Social Work who have leadership potential and are committed to promoting the health of children, youth and families, especially mothers; Develops and implements continuing education regarding child, youth and maternal health practice for social workers in the Mid-Atlantic region, and nationally; Develops and distributes child, youth and maternal social work educational resources and products; Develops and distributes child, youth and maternal curriculum modules for infusion into health specialization courses in MSW programs. Awards a Graduate Assistantship of over $10,000. Plus full in-state tuition to a Child, Youth and Maternal Health student in exchange for 20 hours of work per week during the academic year.
top Child, Adolescent and Family Health Subspecialization The Child, Adolescent and Family Health (CAFH) Subspecialization, School of Social Work, University of Maryland is available to students in good standing enrolled in the School's Advanced Curriculum, Health Specialization. However, students in other specializations may enroll in the Subspecialization courses on a space available basis. Curriculum, School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore The School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore has a 60 credit Master of Social Work Curriculum divided between the 24 credit Foundation Curriculum and the Advanced Curriculum of 36 credits. The Foundation Curriculum The Foundation Curriculum is taken by all entering students. Each student interns in a social work agency two days per week during the two-semester academic year. This internship is referred to as a field placement and/or as the practicum. The Practicum is categorized as two courses, each worth three credits, SOWK 635 (fall semester) and SOWK 636 (spring semester). Other Foundation courses are: SOWK 600 Social Welfare and Social Policy
SOWK 630 Social Work Practice with Individuals
SOWK 631 Social Work Practice with Org. Systems and Communities
SOWK 632 Social Work Practice with Groups and Families
SOWK 640 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
SOWK 641 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
SOWK 670 Social Work Research
SOWK 635 Foundation Field placement I
SOWK 636 Foundation Field placement II
The Advanced Curriculum Field Placements Advanced Curriculum students intern three days a week, remaining at the same field placement for two semesters. For each semester of the Advanced field placement, students earn six course credits, or twelve credits for the academic year. The Baltimore/Washington metropolitan region has a wealth of quality field placements available to CAFH students. They currently include a child advocacy organization; public health clinics; a State Department of Health; a maternal and child health rotation within a teaching hospital; settings for pregnant and parenting adolescents; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS centers; developmental disabilities centers; an inpatient head trauma unit; a lead poisoning prevention and treatment program; centers for children with specific chronic illnesses; in-home services for at-risk infants and others. The Advanced Curriculum: Academic Courses Advanced Curriculum students have a choice of two methods concentrations: Clinical (20 credits);
Management and Community Organization (MACO) (28 credits);
The Child, Adolescent and Family Subspecialization is approved by both concentrations with the understanding that students will focus their learning on a method pertinent to their concentration.
In addition to a concentration, students choose a Specialization. CAFH Subspeciality students must be enrolled in the Health Specialization. Child, Adolescent and Family Subspecialization Requirements CAFH students are Health Specialization students, and must take the Health Specialization required courses, e.g.: SOWK 713 Health Care and Social Policy
SOWK 765 The Nature of Health and Illness
All CAFH students must also take: SOWK 789 Maternal and Child Health Social Work Research
SWCL 714 Social Work Practice in Maternal and Child Health.
Students must also take the courses required by their Concentration. Clinical Concentration students must take: SWCL 700 Paradigms of Clinical Social Work Practice
SWCL 744 Psychopathology
Management and Community Organization Students must take: SWOA 703 Program Management OR
SWOA 704 Community Organization
Plus two SWOA Methods Courses
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last modified on
July 11, 2005
Matt Conn
Director, Office of Communications |
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