CalSWEC BASW Stipend Program
California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) is a unique partnership between social work education and the publicly supported child welfare agencies. A goal of the CalSWEC program is to recruit and prepare a diverse group of social workers for careers in public child welfare. CalSWEC provides financial support to BASW students in exchange for a commitment to work in a public child welfare agency after graduation. The intent of the program is to strengthen and enhance the quality of practice by professionally trained and educated public child welfare social workers.
The IV-E stipends provide support for full-time students in their senior year enrolled in the BASW program. A CalSWEC reimbursement program is available for part-time students currently employed with the County Social Services department that provides child-welfare. All part-time applicants must provide a letter of support from their agency administrator/director. Financial support for awarded part-time students will include actual cost of full tuition and fees, book costs as well as a travel allowance.
Application Process
Students must first be admitted into the BASW program. Students are required to submit a CalSWEC application. The application is supplemented with various questions designed to ascertain their interest and level of commitment to a career in public child welfare. Once accepted into the program students must undergo pre-screening for county employment, including fingerprinting and participation in the criminal clearance process as well as a psychological and/or medical exam. The student is required to sign a contract to secure full-time employment in a public child welfare agency after graduation.
Priority is given to applicants representing diverse population groups currently served by child welfare agencies in California. Fluency in a high demand language is also given priority. Years of service and other child welfare experience also weigh significantly into the selection process.
An Awards Committee, made up of representatives of the CSULB School of Social Work and representatives of public child welfare agencies from counties surrounding the University, will review and finalize selection of candidates to whom the award will be offered.
Requirements
Students participating in the program must meet all the following criteria:
1. Successful admission to the BASW major;
2. Maintain a C (2.0) average;
3. Attendance at mandatory seminars/trainings on specialized topics;
4. Have a valid driver's license and secure use of a car as required for field internship;
5. Undergo pre-screening for county employment;
6. Complete physical and psychological examinations required by agency listed in the affiliation agreement;
7. Fulfill work commitment upon graduation; students sign a contract to render one year of continuous and satisfactory full-time employment in a California public child welfare agency;
8. Students must reimburse CalSWEC if they are unable to successfully complete any of the program requirements.
