TITLE IV-E
EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOLOF SOCIAL WORK

The Education for Public Child Welfare Program is a partnership between the University of Maryland School of Social Work and the Maryland Department of Human Resources to prepare Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students for public child welfare practice.  Federal "Title IV-E" child welfare funds support this effort to provide professional social work education to students preparing to practice in public child welfare programs such as Child Protective Services, Family Preservation, Foster Care, and Adoption.  Child Welfare Student Units with faculty field instructors have been established in local Departmentof Social Services, for a specialized child welfare field placement.  If the proposed funding request for FY 09 is accepted, financial stipends will be available for 65 MSW students who are selected to participate in the Title IV-E Program.  Applicants are selected after a review of their essay and interviews with program faculty.

To be selected for the Program, students must meet, at a minimum, the following conditions:

> Have a basic understanding of and express a specific interest in social work practice in public child welfare in Maryland;
> Be enrolled in the MSW foundation or advanced level field practicum course;
> Have at least a 3.0 GPA in social work coursework;
> At the advanced MSW level, be a clinical concentrator if participating in the program for the first time;
> At the advanced MSW level, specialize in Families & Children and enroll in the following child welfare courses:
    SWCL 727 (Clinical Practice with Families & Children in Child Welfare),
    SOWK 715 (Children and Social Services Policy) and
    SOWK 777 (Research in Child Welfare);
> Be a U.S.citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
> Plan to remain in Marylandafter graduation from the School of Social Work;
> Agree to seek and accept employment with the Maryland Department of Human Resources after graduation.  Students incur an employment obligation of twelve months for each academic year (fall/spring semesters) of participation.  Students who do not fulfill the employment obligation must repay their Title IV-E stipend within 90 days of graduation.   Participants sign a contract agreeing to the employment and payback conditions.

For Academic year 2008-2009, student stipends are $4000 per semester for a total of $8000 per year for practicum MSW students; and $4750 per semester for a total of $9500 per year for advanced level MSWstudents. The student pays his/her tuition and fees from the stipend.  Students who are interested in applying for the Title IV-E Program must complete the on-line application form and essay describing their interest in Public Child Welfare practice and professional goals, and attend an information session.  The Program is competitive.  Applicants are selected based on their essay, an interview with program faculty, academic record, and writing sample.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gisele Ferretto, LCSW-C
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
525W. REDWOOD ST.
BALTIMORE, MD 21201
(410) 706-6934
EMAIL: gferretto@ssw.umaruland.edu

TITLE IV-E PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM
MSW APPLICATION FY 09