Child Advocacy and Policy (M.A.) - Graduate - 2012 University Catalog

You are viewing the 2012 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.

This Master of Arts will offer students an applied course of study in child advocacy. As an emerging field, child advocacy includes an understanding of parts of several disciplines: psychology, sociology, law. However, it is a field where the whole is equal to more than the sum of its parts. Briefly stated, this program aims to provide:

  • A comprehensive view of the field of child advocacy that includes both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary components.
  • A particular understanding of the intricacies of the public child welfare system.
  • Competencies in knowledge, methods, and applications needed for careers and professional development in the field of child advocacy.
  • Field work experience in occupational settings such as the offices of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), Child Advocacy Centers, Residential Treatment facilities, the Juvenile Justice System among others.
  • Access to the program to individuals living in the central and southern regions of the state through a distance-learning component.

ADMISSIONS

In order to gain admission into the program students must meet the following criteria:

  • Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate major
  • Complete an interview by a committee of faculty teaching in the program
  • Include a writing sample to be completed at the time of the interview

In addition, students must meet all standards set by The Graduate School for admission to a graduate program.


CHILD ADVOCACY AND POLICY

Complete 33 semester hours including the following 3 requirement(s):

  1. REQUIRED CORE COURSES

    1. Complete 5 courses for 15 semester hours: .

      CHAD 501 Introduction to Applied Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 502 Child Abuse and Neglect (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 503 Current Social Issues in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 504 Children and Justice (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 505 Forensic Interviewing of Children (3 hours lecture) 3
    2. Complete for 3 semester hours.

      CHAD 620 Practicum in Public Child Welfare 3
  2. ELECTIVE COURSES

    1. Complete 3 courses from the following list.

      CHAD 512 The Bullying Spectrum (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 516 Introduction to Adolescent Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 518 Development and Trauma in Adolescence (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 520 Adolescents and the System (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 521 Substance Abuse and Family Crisis (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 522 Family Empowerment Models for Child Advocates (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 530 Child Protective Service Investigation (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 540 Child Welfare Policy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 560 Engaging the Adolescent (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 610 Seminar: Selected Topics in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 682 3
    2. Complete 1 course from the following list

      CHAD 510 Culturally Competent Practice in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 531 Permanency Planning (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 545 Advocacy in Child Behavioral Health (3 hours lecture) 3
      CHAD 698 Master's Thesis 4
      COUN 590 Counseling the Alcoholic and the Substance Abuser (3 hours lecture) 3
      COUN 595 Multicultural Counseling and Development (3 hours lecture) 3
      COUN 640 Counseling Co-Occurring Disorders (3 hours lecture) 3
      COUN 652 Introduction to Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling (3 hours lecture) 3
      ELAD 521 Education Law (3 hours lecture) 3
      FCST 514 Child in the Family (3 hours lecture) 3
      FCST 544 Intercultural Study of Family (3 hours lecture) 3
      LAWS 500 United States Legal System (3 hours lecture) 3
  3. CULMINATING EXPERIENCE

    Complete for 3 semester hours.

    CHAD 680 Seminar in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture) 3

Course Descriptions:

CHAD501: Introduction to Applied Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

This course will examine the maltreatment of children from both a historical and contemporary perspective. It will discuss the three major reform movements of the Progressive Era that shaped the field of child advocacy. Students will also explore recent trends in legislation that affect abused and neglected children. Emphasis will be on the historical and current role of the child advocate. Empirical and applied research will be reviewed. 3 sh.

CHAD502: Child Abuse and Neglect (3 hours lecture)

This course will take a comprehensive look at the social and psychological development of children caught in the child welfare system. It will compare normal and pathological models of child rearing. Special consideration will be given to the impact of family and social systems on the development and behavior of abused and neglected children. 3 sh.

CHAD503: Current Social Issues in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

This course will focus on current social issues in the field of child advocacy. Poverty, drug abuse, illnesses and violence will be explored. Strategies for social change will be highlighted and discussed. 3 sh.

CHAD504: Children and Justice (3 hours lecture)

This course will provide students will a multisystems view of children's rights and the justice system. Advocacy protocols and practice will be examined. Confidentiality, expert-testimony, and child abuse reporting laws will be studied. 3 sh.

CHAD505: Forensic Interviewing of Children (3 hours lecture)

This course will provide students with an understanding of various theoretical and applied models for interviewing children who may have been abused. Recent research on the communication process and the significance of integrating age-appropriate interviewing strategies and child development will be explored. Appropriate models for interviewing children of diverse backgrounds will be presented. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501.

CHAD510: Culturally Competent Practice in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

This course will explore the three major components of cultural competency necessary for effective child advocacy: value base, knowledge, and skills. The course will focus on enabling students to examine the values that are necessary for a culturally competent understanding and response to children and families, specifically accepting the existence of biases and developing a commitment to stregths-based models that rely on respect for diversity and working toward empowerment as a goal for intervention. Culture is defined broadly, and the course will expose students to a range of belief systems common in different groups concerning child rearing, child maltreatment, and health and mental health. Students will work on issues in interviewing and engaging children and families from different cultural groups. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501.

CHAD512: The Bullying Spectrum (3 hours lecture)

Students will analyze contemporary research and theory on the role of the child advocate in preventing and intervening in children's bullying. Readings will increase students understanding of the social-ecological theory of bullying, which includes influences of the individual, family, peer group, school and community. This will enable students to critically evaluate research-based approaches to anti-bullying advocacy in the areas of law, education, counseling, and child welfare services delivery. 3 sh.

CHAD516: Introduction to Adolescent Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

3 sh.

CHAD518: Development and Trauma in Adolescence (3 hours lecture)

3 sh.

CHAD520: Adolescents and the System (3 hours lecture)

This course will take a comprehensive approach to understanding the multitude of issues and circumstances that bring adolescents to the attention of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Placement options for adolescents and independent living programs will be reviewed. Variables of substance abuse, mental health disorders, and educational deficits will be discussed in relation to outcomes for adolescents. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD521: Substance Abuse and Family Crisis (3 hours lecture)

This course will explore the impact of substance abuse on families involved with the child welfare system. Current research regarding the connection between substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse will be reviewed. Residential and outpatient models of treatment will be evaluated. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD522: Family Empowerment Models for Child Advocates (3 hours lecture)

This course will focus on techniques that will empower families in crisis. Model programs grounded in a strengths-based approach will be analyzed. Strategies to help families utilize their unique human and social capital to build community and kinship support systems will be discussed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD530: Child Protective Service Investigation (3 hours lecture)

This course will examine the investigatory process set down by Title 9 and Title 30. Methods and techniques for interviewing parents and children who come to the attention of the child proective service system will be reviewed. Proceedings such as the Order to Show Cause, Fact Finding, Permanency Hearings, and Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) will be discussed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD531: Permanency Planning (3 hours lecture)

This course will define and review the various meanings of permanency. Age appropriate and comprehensive plans for children in out-of-home placement will be explored. Consideration will be given to attachment and separation issues that result from broken familial bonds. Concurrent planning and adoption practices will be reviewed and critiqued. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD540: Child Welfare Policy (3 hours lecture)

The course will compare and contrast historical and contemporary trends in child welfare policy. Factors that contribute to legislative decision-making as well as the role of the media in shaping public opinion will be considered. Community perceptions of the child welfare system will be examined. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503.

CHAD545: Advocacy in Child Behavioral Health (3 hours lecture)

This course will explore major issues in accessing behavioral health care of children, with particular emphasis on advocacy within the public behavioral health care system in New Jersey. Students will be introduced to the common language of behavioral health providers, and major issues in assessment and treatment. The course will provide an overview of evidence based interventions, including the use of psychotropic medication, as well as the principles and values of the current system of care. Students will explore the appropriateness of various levels of care for different kinds of difficulties. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501.

CHAD560: Engaging the Adolescent (3 hours lecture)

3 sh.

CHAD610: Seminar: Selected Topics in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

This course will focus on current and relevant issues in child advocacy. It will rely on specialists in the field to present their research or area of expertise to interested students. It will also provide students with an opportunity to research the literature within their fields of interest. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503 and three other graduate courses in Child Advocacy.

CHAD620: Practicum in Public Child Welfare

The course will provide students with a supervised field placement at a child advocacy agency. The seminar will provide classroom instruction on issues related to the students' experiences. Site supervisors will provide on-the-job guidance and supervision. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501, CHAD 502, CHAD 503 and matriculation in MA in Child Advocacy.

CHAD680: Seminar in Child Advocacy (3 hours lecture)

Students will complete an applied project that addresses an area of child advocacy and makes a contribution to a local agency, program, community group, or some other relevant body. The seminar will provide classroom instruction and guidance. Students will also work with one other faculty member on the project. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHAD 501 and 502 and 503 and 504 and 505.

CHAD682:

3 sh.

CHAD698: Master's Thesis

Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the MSU Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take CHAD 699 if they don't complete CHAD 698 within the semester. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: Department approval.

COUN590: Counseling the Alcoholic and the Substance Abuser (3 hours lecture)

Describes methods of assessment, treatment planning and charting. Explains the defense structure of the substance abuser. Discusses ethical issues and counseling with special populations as well as children and adult children of alcoholics. Demonstrates individual and group counseling skills. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: COUN 540 or HLTH 511.

COUN595: Multicultural Counseling and Development (3 hours lecture)

Exploration and development of the necessary personal awareness, knowledge and skills for culturally competent counseling practice. Emphasis on historical and current issues and trends associated with race/ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, and ability and how they affect counseling practice. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Matriculation in Graduate Counseling Program.

COUN640: Counseling Co-Occurring Disorders (3 hours lecture)

Provides concentrated study of the current best practice treatment models for clients with co-occuring substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. Emphasizes major theoretical issues drawn from recent research and clinical developments; includes consideration of assessment, treatment and after care perspectives, utilizing current approaches and specific techniques. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Matriculation in Addictions Counseling Program (CNAC) or departmental approval and COUN 540.

COUN652: Introduction to Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling (3 hours lecture)

This course includes an introduction to the major current theoretical approaches of family and couples counseling with emphasis on the counseling process from a family system's perspective in agency, school, or higher education settings within a diverse, multicultural society. Developmental family stages and practice counseling strategies are included. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: COUN 552, COUN 577, COUN 588, COUN 595 and COUN 584.

ELAD521: Education Law (3 hours lecture)

This course immerses students in the practice of school law as it relates to legal theory, practical politics, the relationship of a school district's organization to other units of government, the appellate function of the state Commissioner of Education and the state Board of Education, New Jersey school laws (Title 18A of the revised statutes), and rules and regulations of the state Board of Education and their decisions. Students study New Jersey school legal structure and compare it to that of other states, while they work through authentic case studies. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ELAD 510, Graduate students in Educational Leadership (ELAD), Principal (PRIN), Supervisor (SUPR) or departmental approval.

FCST514: Child in the Family (3 hours lecture)

An intensive study of the theories and research related to child rearing techniques. Analysis of factors influencing parental practices and their effects on the child. Starting Summer 2012: In this course, students engage in an intensive study of the theories and research related to child rearing techniques. Students also analyze of factors influencing parental practices and their effects on the child. 3 sh.

FCST544: Intercultural Study of Family (3 hours lecture)

Analytical study of cross cultural regularities and differentials in family structures. Functions and impact of social change on family values and patterns. Varied conceptual approaches to the study of family as well as a broad acquaintance with empirical studies and research. Starting Summer 2012: In this course students perform an analytical study of cross cultural regularities and differentials in family structures, while examining functions and impact of social change on family values and patterns. Students utilize a variety of conceptual approaches to the study of families as well as gain a broad acquaintance with empirical studies and research. 3 sh.

LAWS500: United States Legal System (3 hours lecture)

This course provides the theoretical basis and appropriate applications of law within the United States legal system in the context of its foundations, processes and norms. Integrating readings from legal theorists, scholars and jurists, the course presents the full range of legal perspectives and processes in order to understand methodologies for resolving legal problems within the evolving United States system of law. 3 sh.

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