Child Advocacy Studies is a three-course micro-credential that prepares undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines to recognize and respond to child abuse and neglect.
Our program is open to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career involving work with families and children, including education, nursing, public health, law, sociology and others. The skills you obtain will be beneficial in any setting that requires interaction with children and families, such as schools, medical offices, hospitals, human service organizations and more.
Undergraduate students from any major and non-degree students may take these courses as a set or as stand-alone courses (except for SW 235). These courses will not fulfill graduate-level social work requirements.
Upon completion of the courses and portfolio, you will earn a notation on your academic transcript, as well as a digital badge you can use on your digital résumé or social media profiles.
SW 225 Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Advocacy
This course provides the foundational knowledge to understand and recognize child maltreatment in diverse settings. The course covers historical and comparative perspectives, including a trauma-informed and human rights perspective, on child maltreatment, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families. This course is designed for, but not limited to, students who are interested in public health, social work, human services, nursing and other health professions, sociology, psychology, law and education.
SW 235 Do We Really Care About Kids? Rethinking Child Welfare in the U.S.
This course focuses on interdisciplinary system responses to child maltreatment, including trauma-informed and human rights-based approaches. The purpose of this course is to expand students’ knowledge of and skills in responding to child maltreatment. The course explores responses across multiple community systems, including child welfare agencies, health care systems, law enforcement and schools. This course is designed for, but not limited to, students who are interested in public health, social work, human services, nursing and other health professions, sociology, psychology, law and education.
SW 245 Global Child Advocacy Issues
The course increases students' understanding of the adverse experiences of children growing up in various countries. The purpose of this course is to expose students to considerations of socioeconomics, health, culture, religion and politics and how these affect the welfare and well-being of children across the world. This course examines advocacy efforts using a trauma-informed, human rights framework.
After completing the three-course sequence, you should submit (electronically) to the director a portfolio that contains the following items:
The Child Advocacy Studies curriculum was originally developed by the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Minnesota to improve responses to child maltreatment. It has been implemented in dozens of colleges and universities across the country.
Smaller that a minor, certificate or degree program, micro-credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. Micro-credentials equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all it took to get there.
When you complete a micro-credential program, you will earn a digital badge or a series of digital badges. A digital badge is a clickable icon that houses information, including the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge and evidence showing you have met that criteria.
Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. You can add your digital badges to your social media profiles, digital résumé, e-portfolio and more.
UB digital badges are issued through Acclaim, allowing you to display your skills and accomplishments to employers, colleagues and peers. For questions, contact the UB Office of Micro-Credentials at micro@buffalo.edu or 716-645-1357.
Patricia Logan-Greene, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Email: pblogang@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-1533