Please review and reflect on the following:

• Read: "How the child welfare system works”
• Watch:
• A Realistic Job Preview of Child Welfare Work in Charlottesville
• DCF on the Air, Ep. 1: Safe, Healthy, and Connected (feat. Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer)
• DCF on the Air, Season 3 BONUS
• Listen to the podcast Casework: What It Really Takes
• The Power of Being Seen: We Can Transform the Child Welfare System
• Podcast: Pathways to Child Welfare Careers
• Reflect: Take some time to reflect on the strengths and goals that you have that would make you a good fit for this area of social work practice.

You can complete your practicum in any of the DCPP local offices, pending supervisor availability. 

Every county has at least one local office. Please review this map of DCPP local offices so you know which counties you'd like to include on your application.

An important part of this application is a personal statement from you that tells us about your progress as a social work student, your interest in child welfare, and your plans for future professional development. Your statement should be no more than five (5) pages and consist of typed essay responses to the following four questions:

1. What has inspired you to pursue child welfare as an emerging social worker? What educational, professional, or personal experiences have influenced this decision?

2. Please outline your current knowledge, skills, and abilities that can support you to become a successful social worker in child welfare? What are some areas of development and growth that you will need to focus on to further your success?

3. Describe how you are prepared for and will balance meeting the demands of being a full-time student, completing a 400+ hour practicum at DCP&P, mandatory training courses, and managing your personal life.

4. Please reflect on your understanding of positionality, power, privilege, and difference and your commitment to recognizing how implicit bias and systematic and institutional racism impact families involved in the child welfare system. Discuss your commitment to dismantling systems of oppression—such as racism. Why is this understanding especially critical when working with children and families in New Jersey?

5. What are some of the key initiatives currently underway in New Jersey to  strengthen child welfare services for vulnerable children and their families? As an emerging social worker, how would you contribute to advancing these efforts and making a meaningful, lasting impact on the well-being of these populations?

Please include your first and last name in the header or top of the page. Please also save the file as a Word (.doc, .docx) or PDF including your last name - eg., "SmithJane_PS.doc" before uploading.

Prepare and upload a current and recent copy of your résumé. Please save the file as a Word (.doc, .docx) or PDF including your last name - eg., "SmithJane_Resume.doc" before uploading.

Upload an unofficial copy of your most recent transcript. Please ensure the file is a PDF file and save it as "SmithJane_Transcript.PDF".