Children and Family Services Concentration (CFS)
The Children and Family Services Concentration students will, through their involvement in the concentration courses, solidify and refine their foundation generalist knowledge and skills in social work while at the same time engaging in “vertical” knowledge-building related to specific policy, theory and practice with children and families. Most students will apply their knowledge and skills in such areas as family or marriage counseling, child protection, adoption and foster care, juvenile development, juvenile delinquency, geriatric social work, alcohol and substance abuse counseling, employment counseling and other child and family related areas. Students graduating from the CFS concentration will also develop an understanding of the myriad influences that impact individual and family functioning. Especially important is an awareness of the place of the family within the larger social system.
Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities Concentration (HMHD)
The Health, Mental Health and Disability concentration is designed to provide a comprehensive approach to the understanding of social work practice in health. Health is seen as a broad concept, comprised of many dimensions across the life span and the depth and breadth of human experience. “Health” includes physical health, mental and emotional health and the recognition and empowerment of persons with disabilities in order to support the right of all persons to maximize their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. Most students will apply their knowledge and skills in such areas as medical social work, adult and child mental health treatment centers, social service agencies specific to disabled clients and other health, mental health and disabilities related areas. Students graduating from the HMHD concentration will also develop an understanding of the biopsychosocial origins of client problems and concerns. Especially important is the awareness of the social stigma for clients and families due to health, mental health, or disability-related needs.
Preparation for School Social Work Certification
The Department has obtained approval from the Illinois State Board of Education to offer curriculum necessary for preparation of the School Social Work Certification. The School Social Work Certification requires the completion of certain courses mandated and approved by ISBE in addition to the courses required in the MSW program.