Child Well-Being and Child Welfare Specialization (CW²)

Training Tomorrow’s Leaders in Child Welfare

The Child Well-Being and Child Welfare Specialization (CW²) at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) prepares Master of Social Work (MSW) students to become compassionate, forward-thinking leaders in the field of child welfare.

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact

Learn from Leaders Who Are Shaping the Field

CW² students learn from nationally recognized faculty who are not only researchers and educators, but also active changemakers in child welfare policy and practice.

The specialization’s innovative curriculum combines rich theoretical insight with hands-on, real-world training. Students build the skills necessary to provide direct services to children and families, advocate for vulnerable populations, shape public policy, and lead systems-level reform.

Coursework spans a wide range of child-serving systems, including:
• Mental and behavioral health
• Public education
• Foster care and adoption
• Child protective services
• Pediatric and family healthcare

Integrated Practice for Systemic Change

What sets CW² apart is its intentional integration of clinical and macro social work training. The program recognizes that truly transformative change in child welfare requires professionals who can engage both at the individual and systems levels.

Graduates emerge prepared to be agents of change—practitioners who are thoughtful, data-driven, and unwavering in their dedication to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.

Leadership with Vision

CW² is led by Dr. Johanna K. P. Greeson, a distinguished member of SP2’s standing faculty and a nationally recognized expert in child welfare, foster care, and youth transitioning to adulthood. Her leadership and scholarship help shape a program that is both academically rigorous and deeply grounded in the realities of practice.

Your Passion. Their Future. Our Commitment.

If you believe every child deserves to thrive—free from harm, full of possibility—then CW² is where your purpose can grow into power. At SP2, you’ll be mentored by trailblazers, supported by a passionate community, and equipped to reimagine what’s possible for children and families.

For prospective students, CW² offers a transformative pathway to impact.
For funders and partners, it represents a powerful investment in the next generation of child welfare leaders.

Contact Us

Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP

Director, Child Well-Being & Child Welfare Specialization

215 898 7540

jgreeson@upenn.edu