Students urged to explore careers in child welfare as demand for social workers grows

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — With colleges back in session and students deciding on their classes, fields of study with job vacancies are top of mind. And there are career paths with job opportunities that can help both children in the foster care system as well as vulnerable families in our community.

“In the child welfare system, who are coming out of school with backgrounds in social work and psychology and child development and the likes to come and utilize those academic skills into a practice application of working with families,” explains Phil Scarpelli, with Family Partnerships of Central Florida.

See also: Florida among top three states for human trafficking, with children most at risk

There are jobs available for graduates within these careers with local agencies as well as with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Individuals dedicated to the safety, well-being, and permanency of children.

“This really needs people who understand family systems issues,” Phil adds. “What drives a family to fail and to lose a child to the system temporarily? And the fact that we can work with them in a trauma-responsive way to let children heal, to let families get back on their feet again. And so those are the kinds of people I want to see attracted to this industry.”

And while young advocates can bring an empathetic generational perspective as they work with the youth, older, motivated candidates are also encouraged to seek these job opportunities.

“Let me tell you something, there are a lot of people who knock on our door that are doing a second or third generation of career path change,” says Phil. “I think that’s wonderful. Having people with diverse backgrounds and lived experience, understanding children is an extreme value.”

To learn more about these professional opportunities, log onto https://myflfamilies.com/careers and for more ways to help children and teens in foster care, visit foreverfamily.org in partnership with ChildNet.

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