The Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Interprofessional Child Welfare gives you a comprehensive training in interprofessional child welfare practices and theories.
occupational endorsement certificate in interprofessional child welfare
The Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Interprofessional Child Welfare draws from multiple social services disciplines, giving you a comprehensive training in interprofessional child welfare practices and theories. As a student, you will build the competencies you need in order to become a successful child welfare professional. The certificate program is open to anyone interested in child welfare. It can be especially useful for individuals who are studying or working in fields focused on family and community well-being, such as social work, education, psychology, public health, justice, or general human services.
Child welfare professionals work in agencies and organizations that provide child protective services, adoption services, foster care, youth residential treatment, and tribal services, among others. Our state has a shortage of trained child welfare professionals, meaning that graduates of the program enter a field with significant job openings—and many opportunities to positively impact Alaskan communities.
The certificate has three core courses and a seminar. You will explore the field of child welfare, the theories and knowledge base that shape interventions, and specific focus areas such as family functioning and interpersonal violence. All students also complete a practicum placement in a child welfare practice setting where they can put their classroom skills to work, become familiar with the field, and build their professional network.
WHY CHOOSE interprofessional child welfare oec AT UAA?
Students in the program will complete practicum placements in the Alaska Office of Children's Services, tribal organizations, or other related child welfare service delivery systems.
Complete the Interprofessional Child Welfare OEC in as little as three to four semesters on a part-time schedule.
Our faculty have experience and expertise across multiple areas of child welfare practice, including ICWA, family client services, foster care, prevention, advocacy, residential treatment, and much more!
The Interprofessional Child Welfare OEC is distance-delivered, allowing students to access the program from anywhere in Alaska.
NEWS & Stories
School of Social Work Assistant Professor Amana Mbise and ISER Research Assistant Professor Nathan West are exploring the relationships that Black barbershops play in men's health. Their community-based research prioritizes the lived experiences of the men they talk to, and is revealing how barbershops function not just as grooming spaces, but as social and cultural hubs.
Dacia Davis, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Social Work and a graduate of UAA's MSW program, finds inspiration in teaching and community.
MiLee Yu is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. In September 2025, MiLee was awarded the BSW Student of the Year award at the Biennial National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Alaska Chapter Conference.
The CAFE Oh Wow (COW) Awards are put on by the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) and honors faculty who show excellence in teaching, research/creative activity, mentorship, and more.
MSW student Keyshon China is dedicated to serving youth and underserved communities, gaining hands-on experience through UAA's School of Social Work and various extracurricular organizations.
Message from the program coordinator
On behalf of the other social work faculty, I want to express how excited we all are in your interest in social work. We teach because we are passionate about education and hope that our enthusiasm translates to the classroom. Even if you are not sure you have an interest in social work, we encourage you to take one of our introductory courses to find out. And if you do choose to major in a different field, our social work program still offers a variety of thought-provoking courses (with easy to satisfy prerequisites) that might be helpful to your chosen degree or that you may just want to take because you are interested in the topic. Whatever your interest in social work, we are here and happy to help.
— Kathi Trawver, Ph.D, LMSW
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Contact Us
Phone: (907) 786-6900
Email: uaa_socialwork@alaska.edu
UAA School of Social Work
UAA Professional Studies Building
2533 Providence Dr, Suite 234
Anchorage, AK 99508
Mailing Address
UAA School of Social Work
3211 Providence Dr, PSB 234
Anchorage, AK 99508
