Travel Dates: TBA
The primary purpose of this short-term study abroad program is to compare child welfare initiatives between the United States and Hungary. Students will critically examine how poverty, structural inequality, and exposure to violence shape safety, permanency, and well-being for children, families, and communities. The program will emphasize respect for cultural diversity and the ways that identity, community norms, and historical context influence family support systems, professional decision-making, and service access.
Special attention will be given to the intersection of child welfare with healthcare, education, and the justice system, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships. By observing and engaging with multidisciplinary teams and community stakeholders, students will explore effective collaboration practices and ethical responsibilities in complex systems. Through comparative learning and engagement with social work professionals, community organizations, and interdisciplinary partners in Hungary, students will critically reflect on their own assumptions and perspectives while identifying both differences and shared challenges in child welfare practice. By examining how social work values and ethics are interpreted and applied within different cultural and institutional contexts, students will strengthen their capacity for culturally responsive practice, cross-cultural collaboration, and global social work engagement.
Want more info?
Mary Gitau
Associate Dean of Access, Belonging, and Global Engagement &
Clinical Associate Professor
708 Stokely Management Center
865-974-1914
[email protected]
