Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Clinical Social Work Fellowship in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, presented in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice and CHOP Department of Social Work, is a comprehensive, two-year training experience to develop expertise in pediatric mental health. 

As one of the first social work fellowship accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, it is a competency-based training program adhering to the accreditation standards for post-master social work fellowship programs. The program is designed to provide in-depth experience in child and adolescent development and psychopathology, diagnostic assessment, and evidence-based treatment methods, equipping graduates to excel as independent mental health providers in a variety of behavioral health settings.

Available every other year to recent graduates of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice’s Master of Social Work program, the Clinical Social Work Fellowship fosters not only clinical expertise but also professional leadership skills.

Fellows receive rigorous clinical training through a series of required and elective rotations engaging in direct practice with children adolescents and families coping with a variety of mental health issues. The program emphasizes diagnostic assessment and psychotherapeutic intervention from a biopsychosocial framework and systems-oriented approach. 

Fellows in the Clinical Social Work Fellowship will gain experience in the following.

• Fellows work as part of an interdisciplinary team of behavioral health professionals, medical providers and other system-based professionals.
• Fellows refine clinical skills under the guidance of experienced supervisors, gaining the supervision hours necessary to meet qualifications for clinical licensure. 
• Fellows attend weekly didactics and participate in specialty training clinics in evidence-based interventions.
• Fellows apply research in practice, positioning themselves as critical consumers of emerging knowledge and future contributors to the advancement of the field of social work.
• Fellows learn to navigate the systemic and ethical complexities of the field and contribute their knowledge and expertise in interprofessional academic and behavioral health settings. 

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be competent, ethical and culturally aware clinical social workers, well-prepared to make a lasting impact on patient families, the healthcare system and broader communities while advancing the profession of social work.

Mission

Our mission is to train competent and dedicated licensed clinical social workers with a specific interest in developing expertise in child and adolescent mental health treatment. Fellows will gain experience practicing in a variety of settings and obtain the necessary clinical training to qualify for clinical social work licensure. Participants in the fellowship program will serve as model clinicians, educators and advocates within the field of social work, and the multi-professional behavioral health system at large.

Upon completion of the two-year fellowship, program participants will have developed the following skills, knowledge and abilities.

• Advanced clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and families with a variety of psychiatric issues.
• Thorough understanding of child and adolescent development and psychopathology, while maintaining the systems-oriented and person-in-environment approach that is unique to social work. 
• The ability to conduct diagnostic assessment for children of all ages and their families from a biopsychosocial framework and provide treatment using therapeutic treatment using evidence-based practices in individual, family and group settings. 
• The ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with other behavioral health providers, medical experts, and the professionals and systems that interface with children and families. 
• The ability to critically evaluate and interpret mental health research literature to provide evidence-based practices that best serve patients and families. 
• Cultural humility and a dedication to the social work values of social justice and inclusion in clinical practice and all professional interactions.
• The skills to work effectively with ethical issues rooted in Social Work and Code of Ethics and will be advocates for their patient families in a multitude of systems. 

Fellows who complete the program will also gain experience with quality improvement methods and learn to effectively communicate their clinical expertise to colleagues, patient families and the larger community.

Program Goals

The Clinical Social Work Fellowship Program is a comprehensive, transformative training experience intended to develop the clinical expertise, leadership abilities and ethical foundations necessary for fellows to become competent and dedicated licensed clinical social workers. The program is designed to prepare fellows for licensure and equip graduates to serve as model clinicians, educators and advocates in the field of social work.

Our goal is for fellows in the Clinical Social Work Fellowship to do the following during their time in the program.

• Develop advanced clinical expertise.
• Strengthen knowledge of social work theories and promote a client-centered approach to care.
• Promote ethical practice and cultural competence.
• Enhance leadership and develop advocacy skills for social justice and systemic change.
• Prepare for clinical licensure, independent practice and professional development.
• Promote the integration of research and evidence-based practice.

By achieving these goals, graduates will become highly skilled, ethical and culturally aware social workers capable of making a significant impact on the lives of children, adolescents and families. They will be equipped with not only the technical and clinical expertise required for licensure but also the leadership and advocacy skills necessary to advance the field of social work and promote positive change in the behavioral health system.

Graduation Requirements

To successfully complete the Clinical Social Work Fellowship and graduate as a competent, ethical and skilled clinical social worker, fellows must meet the following requirements.

• Completion of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice.
• Weekly supervision sessions with an assigned clinical supervisor. 
• Weekly individual or group supervision as required by rotation.
• Adequate mastery of the program’s core competencies.
• Completion of all mandatory coursework, training and workshops. 
• Demonstrated commitment to professional growth through seminar attendance, a quality improvement rotation and quality improvement project in an area of interest.
• Completion of a final program evaluation and exit interview, providing feedback on the fellowship experience.
• Completion of the necessary clinical licensure preparation steps.

By meeting these requirements, graduates will be prepared to transition into independent clinical practice, apply for clinical licensure, and continue their professional development as skilled and ethical clinical social workers in pediatric mental health. This comprehensive preparation ensures that graduates make a significant impact in the field of social work, particularly in the areas of child, adolescent and family mental health.

Curriculum and Rotation Information

The Clinical Social Work Fellowship utilizes a competency-based curriculum aligned with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Fellowship accreditation standards and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, ensuring graduates leave the program with the skills to be successful as an independently practicing Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

The Clinical Social Work Fellowship curriculum is guided by a set of core competencies which include:

• Foundational competencies
  • Professionalism
  • Inclusive and equity-oriented practice
  • Ethical standards 
  • Reflective practice
  • Social justice
  • Scientific knowledge
  • Quality improvement
• Functional competencies
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Assessment/Diagnosis
  • Intervention
  • Consultation
  • Knowledge dissemination
  • Interprofessional collaboration
  • Advocacy

Competencies are assessed through participation in practice rotations and didactics, with supervisors assessing fellows progress in the middle and at the end of each rotation. This strength-based methodology tracks and assesses fellow strengths, needs and overall progress toward goals, evaluating level of independence in practicing and completing target skills. The evaluation framework uses a developmental approach and 'Entrustment Scale' to evaluate fellows competency attainment through demonstrated level of independence in successful completion of targeted skills.  

Clinical Social Work fellows are paid full-time employees who work five days a week. They are required to complete three core foundation rotations and four core seasonal rotations.

• The three core foundation rotations include providing individual trauma informed psychotherapy treatment one day a week for patients with diverse behavioral health needs at:
  • Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Clinic
  • DCAPBS Outpatient Division

and a quality improvement rotation and project.

• The four core seasonal rotations are completed sequentially over the two-year program and include training in the Assessment and Referral Center, Emergency Department, Behavioral Health Inpatient Program, and the Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids: Integrated Care Program 
• Fellows will also complete a minimum of four additional elective rotations. These vary based on availability and interest but have included supervised training in the Young Child Clinic, the Mood Disorders program, eating disorders outpatient and partial hospitalization program and ADHD clinic. 
• Fellows will attend weekly didactics alongside psychiatry and psychology trainees. These hybrid practice-based clinics and seminars span a range of clinical and professional topics but include participation in a cognitive behavioral therapy clinic or a family therapy clinic.

Most rotations are in person with some telehealth possible depending on patient needs.

Other opportunities for participation in supplemental training and didactics are available, based on fellow interests and goals.

Evaluation Procedures

Fellows will be formally evaluated by supervisors at multiple points throughout the fellowship. 

• For core and elective seasonal rotations, supervisors will complete evaluation surveys at mid-rotation and at rotation completion.
  • Rotation supervisors are expected to provide evaluation feedback with the fellow at both evaluation points in supervision. 
• For core foundation rotations, fellows are evaluated twice a year in December and June.
  • Supervisors of these rotations complete a detailed competency-specific evaluation individually
  • Supervisors meet as a group with the Program Director to discuss fellow progress on all competencies and areas for development over the next six months. 
  • Each fellow is provided with a Competency Roadmap to track their progress to date which is reviewed and discussed with the Program Director.

Fellows will also participate in ongoing self-reflection and evaluation discussions in supervision to ensure they are meeting goals, and the program is meeting individual training needs. 

Fellows will be asked to complete evaluations on all supervisors and rotation experiences. This feedback offers valuable insight into the effectiveness of the program, contributing to continuous improvement.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be asked to participate in a final exit interview and provide feedback on the fellowship experience.

Application Process and Requirements

The Clinical Social Work Fellowship is available to recent graduates of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice’s Master of Social Work program. The fellowship is a two-year commitment, meaning applications are accepted every other year. Our current cohort graduates in June 2026, and applications are being accepted for the 2026-2028 fellowship. 

Eligibility requirements for the Clinical Social Work Fellowship include the following.

• Recent graduation from the Master of Social Work program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice.
• At least one year of internship experience in a clinical behavioral health setting.
• Commitment to pursuing licensure in social work and advanced clinical practice in pediatric behavioral health.
• Submission of all application materials by the appropriate deadline.

Every other year, information about the Clinical Social Work Fellowship is sent to second-year Master of Social Work students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. An information session about the fellowship, including detailed application information, is typically held in December or January of the recruitment year. Applications should be available in January, with a submission deadline at the end of February.

All applications are reviewed by the Clinical Social Work Fellowship Committee in early March. Finalists are then invited to participate in interviews at CHOP. Once the Committee has selected a fellow, all applicants are notified at the beginning of April. 

The fellow will begin their position on July 1 of that year.

Program Leadership and Contact Information

The Clinical Social Work Fellowship is supported by a variety of stakeholders at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. The fellowship is led by Program Director, Candace Farrell, PhD, LCSW, with support from the Clinical Social Work Fellowship Committee.

For additional information, please contact the Program Director by email at farrellck@chop.edu.

Other Requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. CHOP requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products. 

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.