Does it feel like the news is filled with heartbreaking stories of young families torn apart by substance use, crime and child abuse?
Sadly, this is the harsh reality for many Americans, and vulnerable children get caught up in the crossfire. Soon after a case is opened, a child welfare social worker and child protective services may roll up to the residence, escort the children into a waiting vehicle, and transport them to a safe space.
What happens next?
After investigating reports of neglect and evaluating family dynamics, child protective services (CPS) workers may either reunite children with their parents or place them in the foster care system—the end goal of which is family reunification or adoption into a new family. All parties involved face emotional and logistical challenges.
“I have always enjoyed working with children,” says Rasmussen University Human Services instructor, Erin Clark Benedict. She found many roles working with children over the years—from camp counselor to volunteer, and in them, she saw how much children need supportive adults in their lives.
“I realized that this opportunity was a way to give kids what I had,” Clark Benedict says. “Someone in their court trying to help them succeed. I pursued social work because I wanted to make a difference in the world.”
So, what does it take to become a child welfare specialist? Clark Benedict has the insights on how to get started in a career protecting children.
How to become a child welfare specialist
If you’d like to work as a child welfare social worker, here's what you need to know.
“Child welfare specialists need a bachelor’s degree in a field like social work, sociology, psychology, human services or education,” Clark Benedict says.
While a bachelor’s degree may help prospective child welfare specialists open the door to entry-level roles, pursuing higher education—such as an advanced degree—can lead to more advanced opportunities and specialized areas within the child welfare field.1
“To do counseling or therapy, or be a supervisor, you would need a master’s degree,” Clark Benedict explains. And don’t forget about the importance of certifications—they can strengthen your qualifications and help with leadership positions within the child welfare system.
Candidates pursuing a career in social work or child welfare services will also need real-world experience, whether through an internship or an entry-level role, to develop the skills and knowledge required to carry out their duties. Classroom learning can’t really compare to on the job experience in this field.
A background in child development or psychology can be especially helpful for understanding trauma and planning effective interventions. Before you start applying for jobs, keep in mind that most roles require passing a state license exam and securing the license to practice.2
Why it’s worth it to be a child welfare specialist
Child welfare social work is an incredibly rewarding and meaningful career. These dedicated professionals have a true calling in life—advocating for the safety and well-being of children and their families and a commitment to social justice. They work closely with school social workers and child protective services to intervene in cases of child abuse and neglect, offering children hope and protection.
While deeply fulfilling, this work comes with many challenges—emotional, logistical and legal—that require compassion and resilience. It’s not for the faint of heart.
“Helping keep kids safe is a challenge at times,” says Clark Benedict. “It is heartbreaking to have to tell them they cannot go with a parent because that parent has made choices that place their family in danger.”
Child welfare workers join forces with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community programs to make sure each child is placed in a safe, loving environment with access to medical care and emotional support.
While no system is perfect, working in this field can bring a ton of purpose and job satisfaction to those who want to keep children safe from harm.
“It is rewarding knowing that a child is not in danger because there are protections in place,” Clark Benedict says.
What are some skills necessary for child welfare social work?
Child welfare workers wear many different hats—they can serve as counselors, case managers, and investigators—and each hat requires a slightly different skillset.
As with many social work roles, different job titles and scopes will also have different education requirements. For example, if you want to provide therapy or become a counselor, you will need to become a licensed social worker (which requires a bachelor’s degree in social work). While if you want to work as a social services assistant in child welfare or in family services, you’d only need an associate’s degree in human services to pursue those roles.
The counselor
Child welfare professionals are exposed to a lot of traumatic and devastating situations, making resilience, patience and emotional strength some of the top qualities to possess.
“When we work with people, hear stories of trauma, or see the most unfortunate parts of life,” says Clark Benedict. “It is critical to know how to manage the impact on your own life.”
For more on that, check out Vicarious Trauma vs. Secondary Trauma: A Guide for Professionals at Risk.
The nature of child welfare social work can be emotionally draining and demanding. By developing emotional resilience, social workers can find healthier ways to cope with stress and trauma. CPS workers also need to be skilled in empathy, listening and patience.
Building trust with family members and children is at the heart of child welfare work. Social workers need to take the time to build relationships and express care for the health and well-being of everyone they support.
“It is critical for your clients to trust you, and these qualities can go a long way in building rapport,” Clark Benedict says.
The case worker
Social workers often take on the role of case managers, assessing client needs and developing and implementing care plans to support families and children. Their work spans many different settings—from schools and clinical to child welfare interventions—and requires the ability to adapt to different types of clients, practices and outcomes.
What does success look like as a case manager in child welfare cases?
Case workers need to be strong communicators and have effective critical thinking, time management, and organizational skills. Keeping clear, concise and accurate records and documentation is important for staying on top of client's needs and ensuring children and families receive support services and community resources like parenting classes, counseling and addiction recovery programs and prepare for any legal proceedings.
“Writing skills are important for documentation,” says Clark Benedict. “You write reports that’ll become a part of the legal record and have an impact on other people’s lives. I always tell my students your writing often is the first impression people have of you!”
For more on this role, check out What Is a Caseworker? One Title, Many Roles.
The investigator
A licensed clinical social worker often serves as an investigator, making home visits to assess reports of child abuse, neglect or mental illness. Each case requires a thorough, unbiased evaluation.
“Being attentive to detail, deadlines and timeliness is key,” Clark Benedict adds.
Determining whether a child should remain in the home or be placed in care depends on numerous factors, including safety risks, the home environment, mental illness factors and the presence of child abuse.
Social workers must carefully examine the safety and well-being of children, and when necessary, provide intervention services to support families in crisis. In addition to investigating cases of physical, mental and sexual abuse, CPS workers will work collaboratively with families to find solutions to prevent further mistreatment. It’s important they respond in a non-judgmental manner.
“Clients need to be able to trust us,” explains Clark Benedict. “And when we don’t demonstrate accountability and ownership, we damage those relationships.”
What license should someone get to work as a child welfare social worker?
If you’re interested in becoming a child welfare specialist, you don’t necessarily need to be a licensed clinical social worker—but it's something you can work towards if you want to expand your role. “This credential would be more for your own personal gain,” Clark Benedict says.
“A licensed clinical social worker needs a master’s degree and supervised work experience,” Clark Benedict says. “This would open many more opportunities for career advancement into management levels.”
Please note that Rasmussen does not offer a master’s degree program in social work.
If you’re a budding CPS worker who’s passionate about child welfare social work, it’s important to learn about licensing and educational requirements in the state or district where you plan to work.
Different states will have different protocols and regulations. In some cases, taking a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam requires at least a bachelor’s degree in Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education® (CSWE®).
“There are minor differences in licensure requirements from state to state, which may vary based on your location,” Clark Benedict says. “Reciprocity between states is not guaranteed, so you would need to look into different requirements in your area.”
Can you work in CPS without being a licensed social worker?
Yes! If you are interested in becoming a non-licensed social worker, good news—you've got options.
While you won’t be able to provide clinical services and other specialized services, non-licensed social workers can still qualify for many different entry-level positions. These job opportunities include supporting licensed social workers and assisting with case management, coordinating services, or helping to manage schedules and caseloads.
While a license isn’t required for every social work job, there are important qualifications to consider, such as continuing education.
“Your bachelor’s degree is typically the main thing you would want to attain,” says Clark Benedict.
“Certifications in trauma, crisis management, or specialty topic areas like domestic violence, mental health and sexual assault would be beneficial and can help inform your work.”
Employers may also look for internships, on-the-job training, and other professional development opportunities to ensure candidates are prepared. This real-world experience prepares students to apply classroom knowledge to build professional skills.3
“Many of these trainings can be done for free when volunteering for a community provider offering these services,” Benedict adds. “These treatment specialties impact the child welfare system and knowledge about these issues will benefit your work.”
How does technology impact the child welfare system?
Welcome to the digital age, where technology shapes how we learn, shop, and connect—and child welfare is no exception. Child welfare professionals and social workers are more plugged in than ever, increasingly relying on digital tools and technology to complete tasks and improve outcomes for children and families.
“Much like any other field, technology is changing the way our work is done,” observes Clark Benedict. “During COVID, more things began to get done via virtual meetings.”
Technology is a powerful force in modernizing child welfare, streamlining tasks like virtual visits, case management, and matching children with families. Digitization enables agencies and caseworkers to focus more time on building relationships with children and families and not buried under mountains of paperwork.
“Caseworkers are often in the community, so more access to mobile work makes case visits, paperwork and other documentation easier,” Clark Benedict says.
How is the child welfare field evolving?
Recent advancements in technology and data analytics aren’t the only factors rapidly transforming child welfare—there are also policy reforms, kin-first care and preventative and family-preservation initiatives.
Policy reforms
Supporting America’s Children and Families Act modernizes welfare programs by prioritizing family preservation, reducing foster care trauma, and ensuring children are not separated from families due to poverty.4
These reforms also increase investments in evidence-based abuse prevention services, reduce administrative burdens for caseworkers, and introduce initiatives to strengthen connections between foster children and incarcerated parents.
More therapy, more connection between services
“A therapeutic foster care model integrates trauma informed care, casework, treatment or therapy, crisis intervention, and other services,” says Clark Benedict. “It works diligently to provide treatment as a team, working with foster parents to help children and stabilize placements.”
Kinship and family-first foster care
The Family First Act prioritizes kinship by placing children with relatives and family members instead of unfamiliar foster families.5
“As work becomes more trauma-informed, it is important to balance the impact of removing a child,” states Clark Benedict. “A child staying in an abusive situation or a child being removed both carry their own types of traumas.”
The kin-first approach recognizes that children experience better emotional, mental and physical outcomes when they are cared for by familiar or trusted individuals.
Family preservation
There’s a significant shift toward supporting families before crises occur with the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). This act aims to help keep families together by allowing states to use federal funds for social services, such as substance abuse treatment and mental health care.
“There has been a heightened focus on interventions that are based on therapy,” Clark Benedict explains. “This approach beneficial to punitive measures and is designed to have lasting change.” Some child welfare service providers may be able to assist a family with therapeutic intervention before a more drastic action occurs.
“We are learning more and more about trauma, mental health, and effective treatment protocols for these issues,” Clark Benedict says. “As work becomes more trauma-informed, it is important to balance the impact preserving safety with the impact of removing a child.”
Some states have launched basic income pilot programs that provide monthly cash payments to families involved in the child welfare system, to reduce financial stress and prevent separation.
What should students consider before entering this field?
“One of the things that I tell my students most about working in human services or social work is that you need to work to develop your self-care strategies,” explains Clark Benedict. “When we work with people, hear stories of trauma, or see the most unfortunate parts of life, it is critical to know how to manage the impact on your own life.”
“How you manage stress, deadlines—and people who target their anger at a system toward you—will determine how you feel about your work,” Clark Benedict says.
“It is a tough balance between being callous and not caring what others think or say but not letting someone hurt your feelings when they are in a position with no power.”
Protecting your peace is crucial. Child welfare social workers must make sure they don’t suffer from burnout or allow their work to negatively impact their personal lives. “Tough cases happen, crisis situations occur, and we hear horrible stories,” she says. "But it is important to not let this impact how you view the world, how you function as a part of your family, or how you interact with others.”
“Your heart will break for some clients, and you will feel rage at others,” she continues. “But somehow, you need to find a way for all of that to stay at the office,”
Is a career as a child welfare social worker in your future?
Think you’ve got what it takes to become a CPS worker or step into another role in child social work?
With the right education and hands-on training, you can make a difference in the lives of children and families. If you’re ready to take the next step, discover What You Can Do With a Human Services Degree from Rasmussen University.
1Rasmussen University does not offer any associate's, bachelor's or master's degree programs in social work, sociology, psychology or education. Rasmussen University’s Human Services Associate’s degree and Human Services Bachelor’s degree programs are not designed to meet, and do not meet, the educational requirements for professional licensure as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other similar licensed careers in any state.
2Rasmussen University’s Human Services programs have not been approved by any state professional licensing body, and these programs are not intended to lead to any state-issued professional license. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.
3It is important to check the specific educational and/or work experience requirements that are needed to sit for certification examinations in your area of interest.
4Congress.Gov, 118th Congress, H.R. 9076, [Accessed June 2025], https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9076/text
5ChildWelfare.Gov, Family First Prevention Services Act, [Accessed June 2025], https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/family-first-prevention-services-act-pl-115-123/
Council on Social Work Education® is a registered trademark of Council on Social Work
CSWE® is a registered trademark of Council on Social Work
