Nationally, 400,000 youth are in foster care at any given time. Only about half will finish high school, and dropout rates are three times higher than other low-income peers. Those who successfully reach a college campus face overwhelming barriers. Many lack the benefit of consistent adult guidance required to navigate the college experience, and basic needs like housing, food security, and finances can become a daily worry. It is estimated that only 5% of these students will graduate from college. The School of Social Work's Institute for Families (IFF) is working to improve these odds through its IFF Fellows Program, which supports students who are current or former youth with experience in the child welfare system.
Field education is an integral part of each student's journey. Rutgers School of Social Work's field education program is based upon educational policies and standards established by the Council on Social Work Education and provides practical learning opportunities that serve as a foundation for students to become successful practitioners. MSW students spend 1,125 hours in the field working alongside professional social workers while being supervised by experienced field instructors.
Associate Professor of Professional Practice Rebecca Davis, Ph. D., MSW, LCSW is a Representative to the UN for the International Association of Schools of Social Work and Board Member for the Working Group on Girls (UN/NGO). She explains the importance of observing Human Rights Day and what social workers can do to support this year's emphasis on honoring girls' rights as human rights.