Introduction

Northeastern’s Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Minor Program has been created to provide students with knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality services to infants, children, and youth. The program’s goal is to prepare students to work effectively within various systems and institutions that respond to children’s concerns.  The CAST program includes a focus on immigrants and displaced children, and teaches resiliency-building strategies for working with at-risk youth. The CAST faculty and staff celebrate collaborative relationships with community-based providers that directly serve and advocate for children and youth within the context of their ecosystems. 

Program Benefits

Why Child Advocacy Studies?

Child neglect and abuse are at very high levels in American society, beyond the ability to be solved using only a criminal justice approach. In order to end the injustices that children suffer, we must use a variety of different interventions. This minor will introduce you to all of these approaches, and thus prepare you with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat this national epidemic.

Career Options

What career paths might I consider?

If you complete a CAST minor, you will learn about how abuse, abandonment and poverty negatively impact young children and youth, and how these harms can be overcome. You will also hone your critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of how to work directly with children and families. In this minor, you will be trained with the skills necessary for careers in child advocacy, including community-based service organizations, law firms, the juvenile justice system, etc. The knowledge gained in this minor may also help you identify and address the impacts of similar issues in your own life history.

Academic Catalog Information

Take a closer look at the minor in Child Advocacy Studies and the courses offered in the program.

Child Advocacy Studies, Minor

Department and Contact Information

If you are interested in the program or have questions, please contact Justice Studies.

Justice Studies Department

About Northeastern

Northeastern Illinois University is home to students from all corners of the world and is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the nation. Our small class sizes, flexible schedules and dedicated faculty can help you succeed in your studies.

We offer an education with value.

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