In today's society, women who return back to school seeking an advancement within their career is a transition within the lives of women that occurs in various contexts, including the women's ages at the time of their transition, which can define both their expectations and opportunities along their life stages and career paths. In the past, women have experienced career pathways which was uncontrollable and even unmanageable although most prior cultural norms relating to women, had an expectancy that women's early adult life should be devoted to childrearing and committed to the home life. Within our world, vulnerable children and their families have been among the most ostracized and neglected populations. Within the field of child welfare and social work, child protection practice in the US and other countries, have a focus to ensure that social workers are trained to offer effective remedies in an effort to promote service quality to individuals that are serviced. This study examined the careers pathways 10 women who work for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS). These women work in various positions such as direct services and management. The result of the study revealed 7 themes: (a) Value of Apprenticeship, (b) Work Impacts Your Life, (c) Lack of Resources to Adequately Service Families in Need, (d) Become an Excessively Protective Parent, (e) Effects of Mandated Education, (f) MSW provides a Theoretical Framework, (g) Adults altered by Their Field of Service to Others. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that future research should examine the career pathways of those working in child welfare who opt out of securing recommended graduate degrees and other continuing education coursework, the impact of the lack of resources available to service the families, and examine the career pathways specifically of women of color. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]