Child Welfare Journal Article Submission Form

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Scope:

Child Welfare publishes manuscripts that extend knowledge in child and family welfare or related services; on any aspect of administration, supervision, casework, group work, community organization, teaching, research, or interpretation; on interdisciplinary approaches to the field; or on social policies affecting children and families.


Manuscript Format:

  • Articles should be 3,500–6,000 words, including abstract, tables, figures, and references.

  • Include an abstract of approximately 75 words at the beginning of the manuscript.

  • References must follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

  • Please use people-first, non-labeling language (e.g., “children in foster care,” not “foster children”; “children who have experienced maltreatment,” not “maltreated children”).


Submission Process:

  • Upload your manuscript using the submission form below and email a copy with your submission date to journal@cwla.org.

  • Do not resubmit a manuscript if you have already received a manuscript identification number; doing so creates duplicate records and delays processing.

  • Do not mail hard copies unless specifically requested by the editors.


Review and Publication:

  • The peer review process typically takes 4–6 weeks.

  • Accepted articles are usually published within 6–8 months.

  • Authors will be notified of review results by email.

  • Please allow 8 weeks before inquiring about your manuscript status.

  • Publication does not imply endorsement of the author’s opinions; diverse perspectives are welcome. Please review our Terms and Conditions.


For all other editorial questions, contact Rachel Adams, Managing Editor, at radams@cwla.org.

 


Please Note: In addition to submitting via this form, please send a copy of your manuscript with a note referencing your submission date to journal@cwla.org. Thank you.