Contact Information
Introduction
The Child Welfare Attendance (CWA) Added Authorization is recognized and was approved in 2018 by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), as a program option for PPS credential-held practitioners in School Counseling, School Psychology, or School Social Work. Practitioners who hold a valid P.P.S. Credential with an option in School Counseling/School Psychology/School Social Work and CWA provide child welfare attendance and related services in addition to their main role or function within a school district or public charter school.
The program is designed as a one semester standalone program for current School Counselors / PPS credential holders employed in LAUSD and other California school districts and public charter schools. The program is offered online on Saturdays.
Program Outcomes
As a result of this training program, students will:
- Know state laws applicable to Child Welfare and Attendance
- Design prevention and intervention strategies for addressing child welfare and truancy in order to reduce student barriers to learning
- Evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies for addressing child welfare and attendance issues
- Value and understand strengths of prevention and intervention strategies for addressing child welfare and attendance issues
- Understand limitations, including contextual and societal barriers, of prevention and intervention strategies for addressing child welfare and attendance issues
- Value using prevention and intervention strategies to benefit students, their families and community
Program Admissions Requirements
For currently employed PPS credential holders (LAUSD School Counselors or other district PPS credentialed personnel):
- Online Graduate Application
- Valid PPS Credential from a CTC Approved Program
- Bachelor’s Degree from a Regionally Accredited Institution
- Official Transcript from all Colleges/Universities Attended, including all Community/Junior College
- Applicants who completed an undergraduate/graduate degree outside of the United States of America:
- Official Transcript Evaluation from an approved evaluation agency that details content of coursework completed, degree equivalency, and cumulative GPA
- Official Transcript is still needed along with Transcript Evaluation
- Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 3.0, or 3.05 in the last 60 Undergraduate Units, a 3.0 in at least 9 Graduate Units, or Completion of a Request for Exception to GPA Requirement
- Applicants whose citizenship is from a country where English is not the primary language:
- TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo English Test Minimum Scores (unless a High School Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree was obtained in the United States)
- An understanding and implicit agreement with the LMU mission and SOE Conceptual Framework.
All applicants are required to submit a personal statement addressing their background and interest in the field, official transcripts, a copy of their current, valid PPS credential (if a PPS credential holder), and two letters of recommendation attesting to their academic and personal qualifications for success in this graduate program.
For current LMU PPS Candidates:
- Applicants must be a current LMU P.P.S. credential candidate and enrolled in fieldwork courses for the P.P.S. credential.
- Applicants must request and complete forms to add the CWA program from their academic advisor.
Program Requirements
Required Coursework
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Semester Hours |
| EDSP 5303 | Foundations in Child Welfare and Attendance | 3 |
| EDSP 5304 | School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Remediation: Prevention and Intervention | 3 |
| EDSP 5305 | CWA Supervision in Community Partnerships and Fieldwork Hours | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 9 |
The course requirements listed here meet the program standards required for a credential recommendation to the CTC for this academic year. The CTC’s standards are subject to change in the future. A candidate being recommended for a credential/authorization at a later year is held to the standards required by the CTC at that time and may need to take additional coursework to meet any new standards required for that credential/authorization.
Additional Requirements
- Completion of a total of 150 fieldwork hours (approximately 30 of these hours must be completed outside of the educational setting)
- Candidates in the School Counseling PPS Credential program who are seeking to add the optional CWA authorization to their PPS credential are required to take the CWA coursework over the span of one to two semesters and remain concurrently enrolled in their culminating PPS Fieldwork. Current LMU School Counseling PPS Credential candidates would be advised to take the first 3-semester-hour content course for CWA during Fieldwork I and the other during Fieldwork II, if they choose to gain this added authorization.
- Candidates who are adding on the CWA authorization to their existing and valid PPS credential are required to complete the CWA coursework over the span of one semester.
- Candidates will not be advised or allowed to take a semester “off” from their degree program in order to complete this supplemental authorization, as it is dependent upon concurrent enrollment in their PPS Fieldwork courses (or current employment in a school district in a PPS position as a school counselor, administrator, psychologist, or social worker if a valid credential holder). The CWA Program is an optional authorization, and it is the candidate’s option to meet these additional requirements in order to improve job opportunities in the field.
- Counseling Organization Membership
- Proof of Liability Insurance with Counseling Organization
- Fieldwork Planning Document
- Approval of Fieldwork Site and Site Supervisor
