Develop strong knowledge and skills in social work practice including:

• Hands-on experience in prevention and intervention methods
• Practicum learning hours to connect online learning with supervised practice in a social work setting
• Specialized training in serving the needs of children, youth and families to positively impact communities
• Coursework applicable to New Jersey licensure for Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or certified School Social Worker

“Montclair is pleased to be responsive to the evolving needs of our students,” says , Interim Department Chair, Social Work and Child Advocacy. “There is a critical need for mental health professionals and this unique program helps address this shortage and serve our diverse children, families and communities.”

Our ĚÇĐÄvlog programs are designed with you in mind. As a busy professional, expect an engaged, flexible online learning experience with the support you need to succeed. With our online social work degree, you will have the flexibility to balance your busy lives as you gain valuable skills in communication, critical thinking, empathy, ethical decision-making, and culturally-responsive assessment and intervention. You will also have the opportunity to customize your elective coursework to build additional competencies based on your interests. These courses include school social work, trauma-informed practice, forensic interviewing of children, and many more.

The Online MSW program includes practicum education, which provides a unique opportunity for students to integrate classroom learning with a supervised practice experience in various social work settings. Students will complete two practicum experiences that are completed in person (on-site) and are completed during daytime business hours. Students will have the opportunity to complete their practicum placements at a wide range of settings including but not limited to mental health centers, non-profit agencies, school settings, hospitals and much more

Learn more about the Master of Social Work concentration in Children, Youth and Families and start your path towards a rewarding career.

*Montclair’s on-ground program is accredited by the and we are currently seeking CSWE accreditation for the online program option.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

The Department actively stands with all who advocate for racial justice and seek reform of all systems that oppress and institutionalize racism. As a department, we recognize the continuing need to confront our own biases in our efforts to challenge racial injustice at all levels.

• The calls for social workers to “act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability.”
• Similarly, the , Principle E states “Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination… Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such groups.”
• The lays out in Section 8.4, that it amounts to professional misconduct for a lawyer to “engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or socioeconomic status in conduct related to the practice of law.”

We apply these policies using cultural humility (Yeager & Bauer-Wu, 2013): We strive to be life-long learners; we challenge racial barriers and power imbalances that result in systematic injustice; and we promote institutional accountability. Using this framework, here are some of the steps we plan to take that represent these efforts.

Lifelong Learning and Self-Reflection. We recognize and are committing to understanding better the myriad ways that systemic oppression affects our perceptions and lived experiences. We also acknowledge that oppression is existent in systemic structures, including in institutions of higher education and their academic programs. Therefore, we strive to be life-long learners and demonstrate our commitment to our professional and personal growth regarding adopting antiracist practices. For example, we:

• Call on all members of our community, especially our White community members, to educate themselves about racial justice and find opportunities to engage in work for social change.
• Collaborate with the Office of Social Justice and Diversity and other departments and offices to establish training and professional development opportunities for students, staff, and both full-time and part-time faculty.
• Look to the University Senate’s Land Acknowledgement Committee for guidance on how to recognize the presence of the university on unceded Lenape territory in ways that actively support decolonization.
• Continuously reflect, reevaluate, and revise our curriculum and course offerings to thoroughly incorporate topics relevant to challenges persistent in society today. This would include a more honest and critical discussion of the histories of our fields, including a recognition of the ways that helping professionals have both perpetuated and challenged racism within the profession.
• Organize resources and make them easily accessible for faculty, students, and staff.
• Ensure that our courses reflect Black and BIPOC scholarship, and model strategies for students to confront their biases and engage in anti-racist practice and policy.

Challenging Power Imbalances. We reaffirm our commitment to anti-racist policy and practice and always confront and challenge power imbalances that lead to unequal and disproportionate outcomes. With this in mind, we:

• Will form a Diversity Advocacy Workgroup, consisting of both faculty and staff student representation, to represent the Department’s continuing commitment to antiracism in teaching, hiring, and community outreach.
• Will have a diversity advocate serve on each search committee in our department. The primary responsibility of the diversity advocate is to be a vocal and responsible advocate for diversity and inclusion throughout the search process.
• Create a Canvas site with resources on antiracism available for all Department members.
• Empower diverse voices from our local communities, including our current and former students, staff, and faculty, and community stakeholders and give these voices space in a shared governance system.
• Seek direct ways for our efforts to have community impact, including community outreach with collaboration of the Center for Community Engagement to promote field work that addresses community-level needs.
• Ensure students have a safe space to communicate and discuss sensitive topics pertaining to racism and divisive hate on campus.
• Ensure students have equal opportunity to field placements and other professional growth opportunities.
• Commit to the recruitment, support, and retention of BIPOC faculty and staff at all levels of hiring in the department.

Maintaining Institutional Accountability. Finally, we will prioritize processes that are geared toward ensuring institutional accountability in addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities as outcomes to their practices. To do this, we:

• Actively engage in scholarship and evaluation of the racial disparities and social injustices in today’s world, with a particular emphasis on the domains of social services that target children, youth and families of color.
• Ensure our faculty members take part in university committees and outreach to address injustices and promote policy development and implementation that is fair and just.
• Encourage students, staff, faculty, and other members of the university community to speak up as agents of change and contact elected public representatives to influence policy issues.
• We commit to regular self-assessments, both internal and external, that evaluate the success of our efforts to promote racial justice both within and beyond the Department.

We take pride and are humbled by our responsibility of preparing the next generation of practitioners for the richly diverse world that they will inherit as graduates of our programs and experience as change agents in their professional careers. We also acknowledge it is our responsibility to maintain a culturally respectful and inclusive educational environment for all members of our department. Therefore, we embrace diversity and respect for all, while challenging epistemologies and policies that inadvertently promote racism and divisive hate in everything we do.

~ The Faculty and Staff of the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” —Nelson Mandela

References

Franklin, A. J., & Boyd-Franklin, N. (2000). Invisibility syndrome : A clinical model of the effects of racism on African-American males. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 33–41.

McCoy, H. (2020). Black Lives Matter, and Yes, You are Racist: The Parallelism of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. 37, 463-475.

Yeager, K. A., & Bauer-Wu, S. (2013). Cultural humility: essential foundation for clinical researchers. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 251–256.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve New Jersey’s most vulnerable children in this capacity,” says Monagas. “I am excited to be part of this community of professionals working towards creating positive change and ensuring better outcomes for children involved with the child welfare system.”

Among the task force’s duties will be to review the practices and policies used by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and the Division of Family and Community Partnerships within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families.

The goals include developing a statewide plan to prevent child abuse and neglect and mechanisms to facilitate prevention strategies; better educating the public on issues of child abuse and neglect; and optimizing the coordination of services and investigations to help ensure timely determination of alleged abuse.

“Many people do not know what child abuse and neglect look like, because most of the time it is not obvious,” says Monagas. “We need to better educate citizens of the warning signs, and, more importantly, what they should do and where they should go when they see them.”

A member of the Montclair State faculty since 2009, Monagas is a clinical specialist in the McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy where, in addition to teaching, she supervises the practicum experience for undergraduate child advocacy and policy majors. Monagas is also the executive director of the , a statewide nonprofit that promotes hope, healing and justice for victims of child abuse by supporting Child Advocacy Centers with training, resources, advocacy and leadership.

“The Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy is so proud to have Dr. Monagas join the NJ Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect,” says Emily Douglas, chairperson of the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State. “It is well-deserved. Dr. Monagas is highly knowledgeable and connected in the field of child abuse and neglect and she will bring a high level of expertise and skill to her role with the Task Force. She is an excellent role model for our students, showing that the work to protect children and to create resilient families requires engagement with all levels of community and government. Without a doubt, she will do important work and the children of New Jersey will be safer for her engagement.”

To learn more about ĚÇĐÄvlog’s programs in social work and child advocacy, visit montclair.edu/social-work-and-child-advocacy.

The recent events at the Capitol do not reflect the values of faculty and staff in the Department of Social Work & Child Advocacy and they are the antithesis of the values that we try to engender in our students and graduates. As educators, we take inspiration from Dr. King, who that “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character -that is the goal of true education.” This is what we want for our students and how we frame the education that we provide for them in our department and in our communities.

We recognize the role of Whiteness in these events,both in the ways that they were carried out and in the ways that we interpret them. There were many symbols from the white nationalist movement, including anti-Black and anti-Semitic imagery, which we condemn. These are stark reminders that as a society, we have failed to effectively confront White supremacy.

As individuals and professionals who are dedicated to social justice through our chosen fields of social work and child advocacy, we use critical thinking skills to carefully evaluate claims of truth. We know that working towards social justice means reckoning with, not ignoring, the long history and continuing reality of racism and violence in this country.

As a bright light, we believe that we are living in a period of time that can be transformative for how we think and talk about history, racism, science, equality, and democracy. This is an opportunity for change. Even as we struggle with recent violent events, we embrace the opportunities that are presented to us today. Thus, we close with a quote from Dr. King, who in 1963, “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, that the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and that in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating beauty.”

~ The faculty and staff of the Department of Social Work & Child Advocacy

January 21, 2021

ĚÇĐÄvlog’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program has earned accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), making it one of seven programs in New Jersey to earn the designation from the United States’ national association representing social work education.

Learn more about our unique, cohort-based Master of Social Work program and find out how it can help propel your current career to the next level or shift gears and explore new directions. Our MSW program aims to prepare advanced practitioners to provide a range of clinical and advocacy services to vulnerable children, adolescents, and their families. It is designed for leaders in social work practice with children, youth, and families in a diverse local and global society.

During the Webinar you will have an opportunity to:

• Interact directly the program faculty
• Learn about admission requirements and structure of our MSW program
• Gain insight into social work career opportunities

When: December 13, 2020, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Where: Online

In its third year of existence, the program has now become one of just 288 programs in the country to earn the accreditation.

“It’s very exciting that our Master of Social Work program has been accredited,” says Emily Douglas, chairperson of the Social Work and Child Advocacy department at Montclair State. “This will have an impact on both preparing future social and/or mental health service providers and on people receiving those services.”

“Since our students primarily come from this region, most will finish their formal training here and stay in the region – meaning they will serve in and give back to their own communities, which fulfills the social justice mission of the University,” says Douglas. “No one expected this program to be formally launched and accredited during a pandemic, but even in these difficult times, our students are moving forward, our faculty are teaching, and our agency partners in the community are continuing to work with our students, for which we are endlessly grateful.”

Montclair State’s MSW program prepares leaders in social work practice with children, youth, and families in a diverse and global society. Based on a unique, cohort-based model, the structure allows students to receive individualized attention and mentoring while developing the necessary knowledge and skills to emerge as change agents in professional social work practice.

Students receive comprehensive training in generalist social work practice with diverse populations, as well as specialized training in clinical practice with children, youth and families. In addition to classroom learning, they receive comprehensive field training at one of more than 125 partner human service agencies in the region such as mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, child welfare agencies, substance abuse clinics, and correctional facilities.

CSWE’s is responsible for developing accreditation standards that define competent preparation and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards.

The accreditation process is a rigorous, multi-year process which requires programs to meet specific benchmarks throughout the candidacy period. Programs have the flexibility to develop curriculum consistent with the and to deliver a program that meets the unique needs of the populations that its graduates will serve.

“Accreditation is important because it ensures that graduates of the MSW program are qualified professionals who provide ethical and effective social work practice often to vulnerable and marginalized members of society,” says Lynette Reitz, an associate professor of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State and the MSW program director. “It impacts every area of the program: students are now eligible for different levels of licensure in New Jersey, and faculty are eligible to apply for federal grant funding for their research. It will only elevate our program further both now and in the future.”

“We’re very excited about this new accreditation,” says Peter Kingstone, dean of the University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “This program has quickly become a big success, and earning our accreditation so quickly and smoothly is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our terrific faculty and staff. We’re excited to see how this program continues to grow and prosper.”

For more information on ĚÇĐÄvlog’s Master of Social Work program, visit .

April 29, 2020
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Eligible students can obtain a MSW in 1 year of full-time study:

• Complete 33 credits over the course of three semesters
• Start classes this Summer and graduate next Spring
• Leverage our affordable tuition rates

There is still time to  2020 admission!

Join us for a Webinar on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:00 PM to hear about the program in detail and get answers to your questions from the program’s faculty.

December 16, 2019, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Learn more about our unique, cohort-based Master of Social Work program and find out how it can help propel your current career to the next level or shift gears and explore new directions. Our MSW program aims to prepare advanced practitioners to provide a range of clinical and advocacy services to vulnerable children, adolescents, and their families. It is designed for leaders in social work practice with children, youth, and families in a diverse local and global society.

During the Webinar you will have an opportunity to:

• Interact directly the program faculty
• Learn about admission requirements and structure of our MSW program
• Gain insight into social work career opportunities

View the application requirements and deadlines on The Graduate School website.

Specialization in Children, Youth and Families
The mission of Montclair State’s MSW program is to prepare leaders in social work practice with children, youth, and families in a diverse and global society. The program aims to prepare advanced practitioners to provide a range of clinical and advocacy services to vulnerable children, adolescents and families. Graduates will promote the wellbeing and functioning of their clients by engaging in ethical, culturally-competent and evidence-informed practice, and by demonstrating a strong commitment to social/economic justice.

Unique Cohort-based Model
The MSW program is based on a unique, cohort-based model. Geared towards full-time study, students progress through the curriculum together and develop close relationships with peers and faculty. The program’s unique structure will allow students to receive individualized attention and mentoring, and develop the necessary knowledge and skills to emerge as change agents for children, youth and families in professional social work practice. The inaugural cohort will consist of approximately 25 students.

Learn from Social Work Professionals with Expertise in Children, Youth and Families
The program’s faculty are experienced professionals who engage in research and clinical practice with children, youth and families. Specific interests represented among the program’s faculty include clinical social work, child well-being, child abuse and neglect, culturally competent practice, social welfare policy, organizational research, youth engagement and positive youth development.

Receive Comprehensive Training in the Classroom and in the Field
Throughout the program, students will receive comprehensive training in generalist social work practice with diverse populations, as well as specialized training with children, youth and families. Specific course topics include diversity and cultural competence, social welfare policy, clinical practice with children and adolescents, family practice, diagnosis and assessment, child abuse and neglect, etc.

In addition to classroom learning, students will receive comprehensive field training at human service agencies throughout the region. Field placements may include mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, child welfare agencies, substance abuse clinics, correctional facilities and other social service agencies. In their field placements, students will apply the concepts learned in class, under the guidance and supervision of experienced social workers.

Additional Program Highlights

• Low student-instructor ratios
• Free application for the inaugural cohort
• Affordable tuition and opportunities for Graduate Assistantships

Apply by February 1, 2018 to receive priority consideration for the program’s inaugural class, which will commence in Fall 2018. All applications must be received no later than April 1, 2018. Applications can be submitted through .

For more information, please contact to Dr. Svetlana Shpiegel, MSW Program Director, at socialwork@montclair.edu or call 973-655-4088

.