Social Impact MBA

Child, Youth and Family Services Management

Effect change through organizations that shape the lives of children and their families

Students in the CYF concentration focus on the broad spectrum of programs and policies that affect family and community life. Students become well versed in the dramatic social, political, and economic changes as well as new directions in system and program design, organizational development, and social capital and community building.

The CYF concentration prepares students for a wide variety of leadership roles in organizations focused on the health and well-being of children, youth and families. They engage in rigorous coursework and pursue career-building opportunities through internships, fellowships, and in-house research projects, putting them in an immediate position to take their careers to the next level as managers, program planners, evaluators, policy analysts, researchers, and educators.

Concentration Chair: Marji Erickson Warfield, PhD’91

“We guide students toward understanding critical connections between theory, research, and lived experiences, and introduce them to social justice leaders and community-based organizations in order to further their passion for program and system change in support of all children, youth and families.”

Connection to Heller Research Institutes and Centers

Students in this concentration benefit from access to faculty in two research groups. The Institute for Child, Youth, and Family Policy researches the health, education, and housing conditions needed for healthy childhoods and identifies disparities in access to those conditions. The Center for Youth and Communities works to improve the quality of education, workforce development, and community systems in order to prepare young people for college, work, and life.

Course requirements