Social Work Commons^™

Challenges To Recruit And Retain American Indian/Alaskan Native Students In Social Work Programs: The Impact On The Child Welfare Workforce, Suzanne L. Cross, Angelique Day, Lucas J. Gogliotti, Justin J. Pung

Social Work Faculty Publications

There is a shortage of professionally trained American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) social workers available to provide services including child welfare services to tribal communities. This study used a mixed-model survey design to examine the perceptions of 47 AI/AN BSW and MSW students enrolled in social work programs across the United States to determine the challenges associated with recruitment and retention. The findings are supported in the literature. Findings indicate that social work academic programs have not made substantial gains in the recruitment and retention of AI/AN students over several decades. Students identified the following seven major barriers to successful recruitment …