Social workers who work for child protective services have a difficult but rewarding job. They're meant to ensure the safety and welfare of children.
To work as a social worker, you'll likely need several years of education and a license. Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about a career as a social worker for child protective services.
What Is a Child Protective Services Social Worker?
Child Protective Services (CPS) is the branch of government in charge of ensuring child welfare by investigating reports and taking steps to keep children safe.
Depending on your location, this may also be called the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or the Department of Social Services (DSS).
Receiving a Report
When a report is made to CPS about an endangered child, a social worker is assigned to follow up on the report. They look for signs of physical abuse and neglect that indicate the child is at risk.
They may interview the child or children and their family members, inspect the home, or look over legal, medical, or school records.
In some cases, they may instruct the caregivers to make specific changes, then follow up to see if those changes were made.
In cases where the child is in danger, they may arrange for the child to be removed from the home and placed into care with a relative or foster family.
The goal of CPS is to reunify families when possible. If children are removed from the home, the social worker will work with the caregivers to help them take the necessary steps to regain custody.
Social workers for CPS may also assist families with accessing resources such as housing, job training, or programs like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Once a report has been filed with CPS, social workers are required to see the process through, whatever the outcome may be. They also keep records and documentation throughout the process.
Work Environment
In the majority of states, child welfare is run at the state level. However, in nine states, it's run by individual counties: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
In Nevada and Wisconsin, child welfare is run partially by the county and partially by the state.
Social workers who work for CPS or their local equivalent usually have an office they use as their home base.
However, social workers may spend a lot of time following up on reports, making home visits, in meetings, or in court.
Requirements to Become a Child Protective Services Social Worker
Social workers are involved in some very sensitive situations. As a result, there are some requirements they need to fulfill before they can work in the field.
In most cases, social workers need to have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. However, this can vary between states.
You can find accredited social work degree programs through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years to complete. You complete general courses and then a specific load of courses in your chosen major.
To earn a master's degree in social work, your bachelor's degree doesn't necessarily have to be in social work. It can be a degree in psychology or another field of social sciences.
However, if you know that you want to earn your master's in social work, a bachelor's in social work will give you a strong foundation to succeed in your master's program.
Bachelor's programs in social work often cover topics such as:
- human behavior
- social justice
- social work policy and practice
- social work research
While in your Bachelor of Social Work program, you may be able to choose a concentration or electives that focus on child and family welfare.
Master's Degree
Once you have earned your bachelor's degree, you can earn your master's degree in social work or social services.
Master's degrees are graduate-level degrees that usually average about two years, though they may range from one to three years.
Master of Social Work degree programs are often specifically designed to meet the state's requirements for social work licensure.
These programs usually include traditional classes as well as field placements and clinical practice, which is often required for licensure.
Like with bachelor's degree programs, you may be able to find a Master of Social Work degree program that allows you to choose a concentration or an emphasis in child and family welfare.
If not, you can choose electives that cover these topics. You can also look to see if your school offers a graduate-level certificate in this area.
Licensure Requirements
All states require clinical social workers to be licensed. Clinical social workers work one-on-one with people and families, and as a result, most CPS social workers are clinical social workers.
Most states also require that social workers have a specific amount of supervised clinical experience. This can range from 1,500 up to 4,000 hours.
You'll also need to take an exam, such as the one offered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). This is a standardized test that covers topics such as:
- human development, diversity, and behavior in the environment
- assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning
- psychotherapy, clinical interventions, and case management
- professional values and ethics
As requirements vary by state, you'll need to check the requirements of the state you live in. Information about state requirements and state boards are available at the ASWB website.
Become a Child Protective Services Social Worker
Child protective services social workers have an important job, and to do this job they need degrees and licensure. With the information above, you can start your path to a career in social work today.
