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
2025 marks the 10th anniversary of CW²—a decade of cultivating social work leaders who are reshaping the landscape of child welfare. Since 2016 alone, CW² has proudly graduated 91 students, each equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills to drive meaningful change in the lives of children, youth, and families. These alumni are now working across the country and across systems, making lasting contributions to child well-being and advancing equity in service delivery and policy.
Designed for those driven to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of children and families, CW² offers an exceptional opportunity to develop both clinical and macro-level expertise—grounded in cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and an unwavering commitment to social justice.
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.
Eligibility
The Child Well-Being and Child Welfare Specialization is open to students in the full-time (two-year) and Advanced Standing programs. CW2 is open to students in both the clinical and macro concentrations. Part-time students can complete the specialization if they are willing to take three classes in their final semester (SWRK 7140 or 7180, SWRK 7130, and SWRK 7320). This scenario requires careful planning with the student’s academic advisor.
Specialization Requirements
Students must complete the following to qualify for the specialization:
SWRK 7310: Clinical and Macro Child Welfare Practice. Fall semester, Advanced Year.
SWRK 7320: Integrative Seminar in Child Welfare. Spring semester, Advanced Year
Child- or youth- focused elective. This course can be taken at SP2 or in another Penn school or department, provided the elective is approved by both the student’s academic advisor and the CW2 program. Pre-approved electives include:
- SWRK 7060: Policies for Children and their Families
- SWRK 7220: Practice with Children and Adolescents
- SWRK 7240: Developmental Disabilities
- SWRK 7420: Practice with Youth Who are Marginalized
- SWRK 7540: Play Therapy
- SWRK 7730: Mental Health Challenges in Childhood and Adolescence
- SWRK 7860: Social Work Practice & Trauma
- SWRK 7960: Family Economic Mobility
- SWRK 7980: Social Work in Schools
- SSPP 6070: Disrupting Gender-Based Violence: Practice and Policy Solutions
Practicum placement in the student’s concentration (clinical or macro) in a child- or youth-focused agency. (The child-focused placement may be completed in either the foundation or advanced year.)
If SP2 funds are available, conference participation in the spring of the final year.
Conferences & Workshops
In their final semester (spring of advanced year), CW2 students attend the annual Pennsylvania Council on Children, Youth, and Family Services conference overnight in Harrisburg, PA. This unique educational opportunity offers students the chance to learn from a range of experts in the field while networking with child welfare leaders. The costs of lodging, meals, transportation, and the conference itself are covered for students in the specialization.
Declaration of Intent
There is no application for CW2, but students must submit their Declaration of Intent to complete the specialization. The Declaration of Intent indicates that students are actively pursuing completion of the specialization, and they will be added to the CW2 listserv and invited to specialization-only events and activities; it does not guarantee a seat in the required courses or a qualifying practicum placement. It is the student’s responsibility to register for and complete the requirements. If a student is not on track to complete the specialization requirements by graduation, their Declaration of Intent will be voided. There is no penalty for not completing the specialization after submitting the Declaration of Intent.
All students who complete the requirements by graduation will have the specialization noted on their transcript.
Contact Us
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP
Director, Child Well-Being & Child Welfare Specialization
215 898 7540