Child Welfare Stipend

Metropolitan State University of Denver is pleased to participate in the Child Welfare Stipend Program. Through federal and state funding provided by the Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and the Colorado Department of Human Services, we are able to offer a limited number of stipends to graduate students committed to working with families who use public child welfare services. This program is designed to invest in the education of students in order to attract qualified social workers to the field for child welfare.


Please read the Stipend Program Contract for complete details and information.


Who can apply?


Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply for a Child Welfare Stipend for the 2012-13 academic year:

  • Current full-time foundation year students entering their concentration year in 2012-13, who are in the Child Welfare Track;
  • Current part-time advanced standing students, who will be entering their final year of the MSW program in 2012-13, who are in the Child Welfare Track;
  • Newly admitted full-time students who have been accepted into the advanced standing MSW program in the Child Welfare Track;
  • Newly admitted full-time students who have been accepted into the regular two-year MSW program in the Child Welfare Track AND are currently a county DHS employee.

    Note: Newly admitted part-time Advanced Standing students and newly admitted full-time Regular Program students who were accepted into the Child Welfare track will be eligible in 2013-14

Academic requirements:

  1. Students must complete the entire Child Welfare track course sequence within the MSW program.
  2. Students must complete a full academic year field placement at a County Department of Human Services. A portion of the field placement hours will take place in required training academy classes.

Nature and Amount of Award:


Students who elect to receive a Child Welfare Stipend commit to working in one of the Colorado County Departments of Human Services for a period of one year post graduation for each year that they receive a stipend. Students must decide on their application whether they will commit to working in a rural or urban Department.


Urban Stipends- are in the amount of $8,000 and students commit to working in one of the following counties: Denver, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Weld, Mesa, El Paso & Larimer counties.

Rural Stipends- are in the amount of $12,000 and students commit to working in a rural Department of Human Services (in an area other than the counties listed above).


In all cases, stipends will only be available as long as state and federal funds are available. An award may be cancelled in its entirety or funds may be partially distributed with subsequent payments being cancelled if state or federal funds are withdrawn.


Work Requirement:


All students receiving a Child Welfare stipend MUST commit to working for a Colorado County Department of Human Services agency for one year post-graduation, for each year that they received a stipend. Graduates must locate a job within two months of graduation. If a graduate is unable to locate a job within two months of graduation, they may be approved for an extension by the State Department of Human Services on a case-by-case basis. In order to receive an extension, graduates must demonstrate efforts to secure employment within that year.


Graduates must participate in all offered interviews, be willing to relocate within Colorado, and accept employment, if offered.

Students who have accepted urban stipends, but are unable to obtain employment in an urban agency may be required to accept employment within a rural agency. Students who have accepted rural stipends may not complete their required year(s) of work in an urban agency.

 

Stipend Payback:


Students who do not meet the requirements of the MSW program, field placement, security clearance, and work requirements will be required to pay back the amount of the stipend in full plus interest and any costs for collection.


Application Process:

  1. Watch this online video to learn more about the reality of a career in child welfare.
  2. Complete Stipend Application and submit it by noon on Monday, April 2nd. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.
  3. Written applications will be reviewed and candidate will selected for interviews. A pre-interview with the MSW Field Director may be required.
  4. Selected candidates will be invited for an in-person interview with representatives from MSU Denver, County Human Services Departments, and the Colorado Dept. of Human Services.
  5. Students will be selected to receive awards based on the availability of funds. Stipend funds are limited and this will be a very competitive process.

For more information, please contact MSW Field Director, Aneesha Bharwani at 303-352-7098 or by email at: abharwan@mscd.edu

Application Forms

Application forms will be available February 2013