Past Hurt, Future Hope: Professionalizing Indian Child Welfare in Undergraduate Social Work Education Through a Collaborative Understanding of Changing Values and Changing Practices

Abstract

This article explores the shared history of values and practices that motivates American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) and non-AI/AN child welfare stakeholders in a small Midwestern city and several Tribal reservations, to utilize Children's Bureau child welfare workforce development funding to plan for a better future for AI/AN children and families at risk of poor outcomes, as well as to promote the professionalization of child welfare through support of culturally appropriate undergraduate social work education.

KEYWORDS:

• child welfare
• Native American
• undergraduate