Beginning in fall 2011, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will offer a new Child Advocacy Studies certificate to graduate students as part of the online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program. The CAST certificate, which is designed to prepare students for the realities of child protection and serve the needs of learners who are specifically interested in professions that work directly with or among maltreated children, meets the mission of the National Child Protection Training Center, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to end child abuse in the United States.

The CAST certificate, which is earned upon the successful completion of nine graduate credits through the Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy, Victimology, and internship or independent study courses, is specifically tailored for students who intend to pursue careers in law enforcement and as child protection professionals, victim workers, lawyers, witness workers, school social workers and treatment providers.

“I am elated that learners pursuing the CAST certificate will have an opportunity to analyze current practices, explore best practice options, dissect cases, debate controversial topics and address related child maltreatment issues," says Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller, MSPM program coordinator.

In recognition of UW-Platteville students’ contribution to their mission, the NCPTC will recognize the UW-Platteville CASTcertificate on their website and will also sign, and include their logo on, each awarded UW-Platteville CAST certificate.

To read more more, check out the full press release. For more information about the certificate, contact Banachowski-Fuller at 608.342.1652 or banachoc@uwplatt.edu.