University partnership in child welfare workforce preparation and program implementation

Abstract

In this article, we present a university partnership with public and private child welfare organizations that simultaneously transformed MSW field curricula and informed installation and implementation of new child welfare practice models. Anchored in implementation science and frameworks, the partnership’s plan-do-study-act feedback loops identify challenges and opportunities, integrate lessons for students, instructors, and participating organizations, and prepare future workforce and leaders to deliver evidence-informed practice. Its focus, processes, structures, and tools offer academic professional degree programs an example of how workforce preparation and the implementation of service programs can be mutually reinforcing and beneficial.