The Ruth H. Young Center provides education and training through a range of mechanisms. The Child Welfare Academy, a partnership between the School of Social Work and the Maryland Department of Human Resources, develops, educates, trains, and supports Maryland’s child welfare staff, supervisors, administrators, and resource parents to provide family centered, culturally competent services to protect children from maltreatment, achieve permanency, and promote child well-being. Under the auspices of the Child Welfare Academy, pre-service and in-service training is provided to all new Child Welfare workers and supervisors. In addition, continuing education training is provided to resource parents who are caring for children in the custody of the Department of Human Resources. Adult Services Training is provided for adult services staff in local departments of social services. A competency-based approach to training provides staff with awareness, knowledge, and skills required for performing role-related tasks.
The Title IV-E Education for Public Child Welfare Service Program provides direct mentored experience for MSW students preparing for employment in public child welfare practice while serving children and families in Maryland’s Local Departments of Social Services. Faculty led field instruction units are located in counties across Maryland and in our Family Connections program in Baltimore City. The MSW program offers a range of courses related to families and children. Research training opportunities prepare future researchers through dissertation research and graduate assistant positions for PhD and MSW students. Faculty members are featured speakers at major national and international conferences and present results of their research to community groups and through peer-reviewed papers at national conferences. | 
