Child and Family Studies Major Careers

Area

Employer

Information/Strategies

Pre-School/Day Care

• 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

• 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 certification, 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.

Education

• 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

• 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 sufficient for teaching at community or two-year institutions.
• Pursue a Ph.D. for college and university teaching and research opportunities.

Social Services

• 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

• 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.

Advocacy

• 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

• 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.

Healthcare

• 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

• 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.

Business

• 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

• 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.

Communications

• Book publishers
• Radio and TV stations
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Social service organizations
• Manufacturers
• Consumer protection agencies
• Professional associations

• 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.