Chico BSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program 

In February 2003, the BSW Task Force, composed of social work faculty, state agency leaders, and Title IV-E MSW project coordinators, was formed to shape the contract and program parameters for an undergraduate Title IV-E program.  Early on, the task force developed a questionnaire for counties about their needs to supplement information initially acquired from regional focus groups conducted by CalSWEC Director Chris Mathias and Curriculum Specialist Elizabeth Gilman.  Results of the focus groups as well as the survey, which was conducted through the end of the fiscal year, revealed the special workforce challenges that some counties face.

• Just as California's counties are not homogenous, neither are their needs; some counties are able to hire MSW staff exclusively, while other lack the financial capacity to hire only staff with graduate degrees.
• In a number of regions in the state, particularly in rural areas, child welfare staff (and especially recent immigrants and other culturally diverse individuals) who wish to enter the child welfare workforce may lack college degrees and/or specialized social work education.
• Many counties cannot readily give staff administrative leave to complete their education.  In addition, many adults are unable to forego income to complete a full-time program.  A part-time program is consequently required.

Armed with this information, the task force set about developing contract and program recommendations for the undergraduate program.  Its work has resulted in three BSW programs; CSU, Chico, CSU, Fresno, and CSU, Long Beach being awarded the BSW Title IV-E program, with other schools having the opportunity to participate in the future.  The Title IV-E BSW program would provide specialized education in child welfare with at least 400 hours of field placement spread over two consecutive semesters or three school quarters.  The Title IV-E BSW program would achieve the following major goals:

• Enhance the educational opportunities of non-degreed child welfare staff, and
• Increase the diversity of child welfare staff to reflect the California population.

Program Description

The IV-E stipends provide support of $15,000 per year for students in the Full-Time BSW Program. 

• Senior year field placements must be in California County Child Welfare Agencies.
• Students sign a contact agreeing to pay back this award by securing employment in a California County Department of Child Welfare Services within six months of graduation.  They must work two years to pay back the full-time stipend, one year for each year they receive the part-time stipend.
• Students who are DSS/CDSS or CSW employees on educational lave must return to work in their home county upon graduation.

Qualifications

Students must be enrolled in the California State University, Chico, School of Social Work to be eligible to compete for the Title IV-E Program.  The number of stipends is limited.  Applications must demonstrate commitment to public child welfare.  Fluency in a high demand language is also given priority.

Awards Process

An awards committee, made up of representatives of the CSU, School of Social Work, and representatives of public child welfare agencies from counties surrounding the University, will review all applications and finalize selection of candidates to whom the award will be offered.