Private, public, franchise and corporate day care centers
Pre-schools
Montessori schools
Religious organizations
Extended school programs
Recreation programs
Health clubs
Private homes
Family day care
Federal, state and local government:
Department of Health and Human Services
Head Start
Strategies & Information:
Obtain experience working with children through volunteer, intern or part-time positions.
Demonstrate patience, creativity and the ability to work well with people of various backgrounds.
Develop strong communications skills to deal effectively with students, staff and parents.
Acquire appropriate certifi cation, such as Child Development Associate (CDA) or Pre-K licensure for some pre-school settings. Certification varies by state.
Note that some private employers seek staff whose religious values match their organizations' missions.
Area:
Education
Sub-Area:
Teaching:
Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Special Education
Home Economics
Family and Consumer Sciences
Curriculum Development
Research
Counseling
Administration
College Student Affairs
Employers:
Public and private schools (K-12)
Public pre-school programs (Head Start)
Private pre-school programs
Montessori schools
Adult education programs
Extension offices
Colleges and universities
Strategies & Information:
Develop excellent interpersonal, public speaking and writing skills.
Learn to work well with different types of people.
Gain experience working with a target age group through mentoring, tutoring or volunteering with a school-based organization.
Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant or student advisor to cultivate leadership and communication skills.
Join student chapters of national teaching organizations.
Acquire appropriate certification for public school (and some private school) teaching positions, which varies by state.
Obtain graduate degree for counseling, student affairs and administrative positions.
A master’s degree may be suffi cient for teaching at community or two-year institutions.
Pursue a Ph.D. for college and university teaching and research opportunities.
Area:
Social Services
Sub-Area:
Case Management
Counseling
Advocacy
Program Development
Community Education
Volunteer Coordination
Administration
Research
Evaluation
Fundraising
Public Relations
Grant Writing
Employers:
Community centers
Youth services agencies/programs
Family services agencies/programs (financial, family planning, health and wellness, marriage, vocational, food/housing assistance, military family support)
Senior citizens programs
Nursing homes
Assisted living facilities
Rehabilitation organizations
Group homes
Half-way houses
Mediation centers
Consulting firms
Consumer protection agencies
Adoption agencies
Federal, state and local government including:
Department of Health and Human Services:
Administration on Aging
Administration for Children and Families
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Health Resources & Services Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Justice:
Probation and parole offices
Correctional facilities
Strategies & Information:
Exhibit a desire to help others, along with communication and organizational skills.
Seek experience as a volunteer, intern or paid employee with social service or non-profit organizations.
Become familiar with government and community resources available for those in need.
Develop a wide range of skills such as presenting, grant writing and fundraising, as professionals in nonprofit organizations may fill multiple roles in their positions.
Learn to work well with different types of people from varying socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Supplement curriculum with courses in social work, sociology or psychology.
Pursue additional coursework to specialize in an area or with a certain population such as addiction, gerontology, child welfare, etc.
Consider earning Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential through the National Council on Family Relations.
Become familiar with government hiring procedures.
Obtain a master's degree and appropriate licensure in mental health counseling, social work or rehabilitation counseling to provide therapy.
Earn a graduate degree for greater access to administrative positions.
Area:
Advocacy
Sub-Area:
Domestic and International Advocacy
Humanitarian Services, i.e. human rights, family planning, world health, disaster relief
Development:
Economic
Community
Housing
Policy Development
Program Administration
Fundraising/Development
Volunteer Coordination
Grant Writing
Employers:
Community action agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Private voluntary organizations
Faith based organizations (FBO's) and churches
International aid and relief organizations
NGO's (Non-governmental Organizations), i.e.
Action Aid, Oxfam, International Red Cross
Federal government agencies
International focus:
Peace Corps
USAID
Foreign Service (State Department)
Community assistance focus:
Housing and Urban Development
Department of Health and Human Services
State and local government agencies
Strategies & Information:
Demonstrate strong desire to help others.
Volunteer at social service agencies to gain experience and demonstrate interest.
Participate in campus "alternative break" trips or church-led mission trips to gain experience assisting groups in need.
Pursue leadership roles in campus and community advocacy organizations, and learn how to motivate individuals and groups.
Develop excellent research, writing, communication and organizational skills; fundraising experience may be helpful for some positions.
Complete an internship with a government organization in area of interest.
Research federal, state and local job application procedures.
Area:
Healthcare
Sub-Area:
Hospital Based Family Support/Child Life Services (provide emotional support, educate children and families, identify resources, coordinate events)
Health, Nutrition, Safety Education
Advocacy
Employers:
Hospitals
Doctors’ offices
Healthcare facilities
Specialized camps/schools
Hospice programs
Funeral homes
Social service organizations
Public health programs
Federal, state and local government including:
Department of Health and Human Services:
Administration on Aging
Administration for Children and Families
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Health Resources & Services Administration
Strategies & Information:
Volunteer in a healthcare setting such as a hospital or specialized children’s camp.
Develop a high comfort level working in clinical environments with children and families under stress.
Acquire strong communication skills, and plan to work on interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, counselors, etc. who provide care to children.
Obtain Child Life Specialist certification through the Child Life Council, and be willing to relocate for greater access to positions in children’s hospitals.
Prepare to work nights, weekends and holidays in some healthcare settings.
Earn a master's degree in social work, counseling, nutrition, public health or related area for increased opportunities.
Area:
Business
Sub-Area:
Market Research
Product Testing
Product Development
Management
Sales
Customer Service
Employers:
Manufacturing companies of children's clothes, toys, furniture and food
Consumer protection agencies
Department and retail stores
Social service organizations with business components, i.e. tax assistance, financial planning
Strategies & Information:
Demonstrate initiative, attention to detail, organization and problem-solving skills.
Learn to communicate effectively with a wide-range of people. Consider taking interpersonal communication and public speaking classes.
Earn a business minor or supplement program with courses such as accounting, management, finance, etc. to increase understanding of business theory.
Obtain sales/retail experience with companies catering to children’s needs.
Join business or retail student organizations and secure leadership positions.
Area:
Communications
Sub-Area:
Research
Curriculum/Resource Development
Journalism
Writing
Editing
Public Relations
Employers:
Organizations geared toward children and families including:
Book publishers
Radio and TV stations
Newspapers
Magazines
Social service organizations
Manufacturers
Consumer protection agencies
Professional associations
Strategies & Information:
Develop excellent grammar and writing skills.
Learn to think critically and research effectively.
Take elective courses in the communications field such as journalism, broadcasting, public relations and advertising, or earn a minor in one area of interest.
Obtain experience with a college newspaper, yearbook, alumni publication or with local radio or television stations.
Compile a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns and other relevant work, especially those that have been published.
Develop desktop publishing, webpage design and other computer skills. Online communication is increasing, while print is declining.
Pursue an active role, preferably leadership, in journalism organizations.
Prepare to work in deadline-oriented environments and to withstand criticism.
General Information and Strategies
A Bachelor's degree is sufficient for entry-level positions.
Advanced degrees are essential for clinical and therapeutic counseling positions.
The Child and Family Studies major can serves as preparation for students pursuing advanced training in other areas such as healthcare, i.e. pediatric nursing, family medicine; law, i.e. family law, elder law, child advocacy; and ministry, i.e. youth ministry, pastoral counseling. Research admissions requirements and take pre-requisite courses for programs of interest.
A Master's degree or Ph.D. is often needed for administrative and supervisory positions.
A Ph.D. is required for most college teaching and advanced research positions.
Additional or specialized training qualifies one for higher paying opportunities and positions of greater responsibility.
Obtain part-time, summer, internship or volunteer experience in child care, schools, hospitals, camps, or overseas programs or in advocacy or service-oriented programs addressing alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, aging, poverty, disabilities, etc.
Obtain certifi cation for specialized areas including Child Life Specialist or Family Life Educator.