The Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Certificate, offered online through Delta State’s Bachelor of Social Work program, is a summer certification program that prepares students from any major, and professionals such as social workers, law enforcement, attorneys, teachers, and child protection workers, to recognize, report, and respond to child maltreatment and exploitation, particularly within multi-disciplinary forensic teams.
To earn the in-house Certificate of Completion, participants must complete three required courses, enroll in CACM’s online CAST registry, participate in FORECAST® Child Abuse Simulation, and submit outcomes assessment surveys. Non-degree-seeking professionals may also enroll, and successful completers receive the official CAST certificate.
100%
Online
(with one in-person simulation day)
10
Week Program
3
Required courses
Why Choose Child Advocacy Studies Training at DSU?
The Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Certificate is offered during summer terms as electives for students from any major or as a non-degree certificate option for professionals. Courses use evidence-based, problem-based learning (PBL) simulations facilitated by the nationally certified DSU FORECAST Simulation Team.
CAST courses feature highly realistic child maltreatment and exploitation scenarios—such as the Katie Simulation focused on mandated reporting and the Hailey Miller scenario involving home visits, family interviews, and the program’s innovative mobile mock crime scene and mock meth lab. These immersive simulations form the core of CAST training and provide hands-on, interdisciplinary experience.
Students collaborate with Criminal Justice and Criminology majors, simulating law enforcement and Child Protective Services investigations to solve cases and build essential multidisciplinary skills. While Mississippi has other CAST programs, Delta State stands out by offering both specialized training and an official certificate, enhancing career readiness for future child advocates across multiple fields.
- Three-course summer certificate
- Fully-online delivery
- One in-person simulation day
- Evidence-based, problem-based simulations
- Realistic child maltreatment scenario
- Hands-on training
- Interdisciplinary teamwork with Criminal Justice and Criminology students
- Official CAST certificate
- Enhances career readiness
What Can I Do with a Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Certificate?
A Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Certificate equips you with specialized skills to pursue roles in child advocacy, child protective services, law enforcement, education, healthcare, nonprofits, and other organizations focused on preventing and responding to child maltreatment and exploitation. Because Mississippi law requires every adult to report suspected abuse, the CAST Certificate helps parents, teachers, nurses, pastors, volunteers, and anyone working with children recognize red flags, file accurate reports, and take appropriate follow-up actions.
The CAST Certificate is especially valuable for addressing hidden risks such as online and in-home exploitation and the social issues that contribute to child maltreatment. Through evidence-based, hands-on training, CAST enhances professional readiness, strengthens community prevention efforts, and equips individuals to make a meaningful difference in protecting vulnerable children.
Scholarships
At Delta State University, we understand the importance of affordable education. While we currently do not offer scholarships or funding specifically for the Child Advocacy Studies Training Certificate, we do offer an affordable tuition rate with no additional fees for out-of-state students. Students who pursue the certificate must also pursue a degree such as the BSW in Social Work in order to be eligible for summer financial aid. Non-degree seeking does not qualify for scholarships or financial aid. The cost for entering the program is the typical summer tuition rate.
Program Goals
The goal of Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST), is to educate students about how to recognize, report, and respond effectively to child maltreatment and exploitation.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Social Work Program as a major is not required for Child Advocacy Studies Certification nor is completion of the BSW degree. Students wishing to complete the Child Advocacy Studies Training Certificate program will complete an application in SWO 301, enroll in the three required courses, and complete each course successfully earning a C or above to earn the certificate.
To earn the Certificate of Completion, students/professionals must:
- Complete an application in SWO 301 Child Welfare and Advocacy
- Participate in the required FORECAST Problem Based Learning simulations
- Successfully complete all three DSU CAST courses with a grade of C or higher
- Register with the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) as a CAST student
- Complete CAST outcomes assessment surveys before the courses end
Note: Students who have taken CAST 301 at a community college or another institution and have previously participated in a FORECAST simulation can request a course substitution for SWO 301 if a transcript is sent during the university admissions process and the course articulates with the DSU Registrar’s office.
Curriculum
A Certificate of Completion is awarded to each student/professional who successfully completes it by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of MS through the DSU BSW Program. It also appears on the student’s transcript as a university Certificate of Completion. It should be noted that the certificate is not a specialty credential and is not yet an IHL-approved certificate program. It is an academic certificate that signifies that its holder can effectively recognize, report, and respond to child maltreatment and exploitation.
The three courses required for the Child Advocacy Studies Certificate program are as follows:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| SWO 301 | Child Welfare and Advocacy | 3 |
| SWO 412 | System Responses to Child Maltreatment | 3 |
| CRJ 475 | Family Violence | 3 |
| TOTAL | 9 | |
Successful completion means completing the three required courses with a grade of C or better. Upon completion, each student will receive a Certificate of Completion in Child Advocacy Studies.
