Honoring National Child Welfare Workforce Development Month

Join us during the month of September as we celebrate National Child Welfare Workforce. The School of Social Work is proud to partner with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in the establishment of the Child Welfare Office of Workforce Development to help support child welfare across the state. This collaboration ensures that professional, administrative, and technical services are provided to meet the requirements set by state laws, federal mandates, and Medicaid programs.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our dedicated Child Welfare Office of Workforce Development team, who work tirelessly to train hundreds of child welfare workers and foster and adoptive parents each year. Together with DCFS, we are committed to building a skilled workforce that enhances outcomes for children, youth, and families in need.

A special thank you goes out to the universities participating in the University Academic Partnership Program for 2023-2024, actively delivering the DCFS curriculum:

• Aurora University
• Chicago State University
• Dominican University
• Governors State University
• Illinois State University
• Lewis University
• Northeastern Illinois University
• Northern Illinois University
• Olivet Nazarene University
• St. Augustine College
• Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
• University of St. Francis
• Western Illinois University

We invite all universities interested in learning more about the University Academic Partnership Program to contact Audrey Reischauer at adreisc@illinois.edu.

We celebrate and thank every individual contributing to the vital work of supporting child welfare across the state!