Child Welfare Program
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Department of Social Work
Dear Prospective Child Welfare Program Scholar:
Thank you for your interest in MSU Mankato’s Department of Social Work and the Minnesota MSW Title IV-E
Child Welfare Program (CWP) offered in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. This
program provides opportunities for professional development in addition to financial support for selected
graduate social work students planning to work in the public child welfare service system. The purpose of the
program is to support the recruitment, education, and or retention of a well-prepared public child welfare work
force to enhance the service delivery system in Minnesota.
PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Public child welfare services are those provided by state, tribal, or county governmental agencies. These social
services promote the welfare of all children through child protection, foster care, adoption, family services, and
tribal social services. The following definition of child welfare services appear in the Adoption Assistance and
Child Welfare Act of 1980, Part B, Section 425 (a) (1):
The term “child welfare services” means public social services, which are directed toward the
accomplishment of the following purposes: (A) Protecting and promoting the welfare of all
children, including handicapped, homeless, dependent, or neglected children; (B) Preventing or
remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in the neglect, abuse,
exploitation, or delinquency of children; (C) Preventing the unnecessary separation of children
from their families by identifying family problems, assisting families in resolving their problems,
and preventing breakup of the family where the prevention of child removal is desirable and
possible; (D) Restoring to their families children who have been removed, by the provision of
services to the child and the families; (E) Placing children in suitable adoptive homes, in cases
where restoration to the biological family is not possible or appropriate; and (F) Assuring
adequate care of children away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be returned
home or cannot be placed for adoption.
OPPORTUNITIES
The MSUM Department of Social Work scholar awards are supported by the Minnesota Department of Human
Services and the US Department of Children, Youth and Families Title IV-E Training Grants. Selected scholars
receive advising, professional development, training, and stipend awards. The stipend award is $10,050.00 per
student, per year ($3,000 for fall semester, $3,525 for spring and, $3,525 for summer). All awards are
contingent on continued federal funding and an annual grant renewal process. Should federal funding become
unavailable or should the grant not be renewed, neither MSU, M nor the Department of Social Work are
responsible for continued funding. The stipends are taxable income and will be disbursed once each semester
through MSU Mankato’s student payroll. The Office of Financial Aid is also notified of your student stipend
recipient status. This may impact other financial aid and recipients are encouraged to consult with the financial
aid office.
CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS*
Students who are selected for the Child Welfare Program must:
 be prepared to meet all academic, training, and professional development requirements;
 provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (driver’s license or passport);
 complete an essay addressing interest and commitment to practice, career goals, and commitment to
culturally relevant practice in public child welfare;
 sign Statement of Understanding (enclosed);
 undergo a background check upon acceptance into the CWP;
 commit to working in public child welfare upon completion of the MSW program, following an
employment protocol.
*COMPLETE expectations for completion of the MSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Program can be found in the
Student Handbook (on-line http://sbs.mnsu.edu/socialwork/child%20welfare%20program/welcome.html ).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications are reviewed by CWP faculty members. Applicants are notified of the decision in writing within 23 weeks after the application deadline. Stipend recipients will be selected using the above requirements and the
following criteria:
1. Successful submission of all application material.
2. Successful applicants will have the commitment and ability to be educated and employed in the public
child welfare field.
3. Past professional and/or para-professional experience in child welfare can be in child protection,
adoptions, foster care, and contracted agencies and agencies/organizations working with vulnerable/atrisk children. Volunteer experience is also accepted.
4. Successful applicants should be developing competency in, and commitment to, culturally sensitive
practice with ethnic minorities, diverse communities, underserved populations, and people not of the
applicant’s own racial, ethnic, or cultural identification.
RENEWAL OF SCHOLAR STIPEND
Scholars are eligible to continue to receive this stipend for each of the semesters ($3,000 for fall semester,
$3,525 for spring and, $3,525 for summer) in which they are enrolled, provided they meet all program
requirements. The continuation of this stipend is contingent upon continued MN DHS funding, compliance with
all academic standards of the MSW and Graduate College, and satisfactorily meeting the requirements for
participation as a Child Welfare Program scholar. Scholars will be asked to review and re-sign a Memorandum
of Agreement each semester they are part of the CWP.
Thank you for your interest in our program. We are delighted that you are considering making a contribution as
a professional social worker to the welfare of the children and families. If you have questions about the Child
Welfare Program as you complete this application, please do not hesitate to contact MSUM Department of
Social Work MSW Child Welfare Program Coordinator, Robin R. Wingo, MSW, LISW at 50777-389-5084 or
robin.wingo@mnsu.edu. Additional information about the Department of Social Work is available on the
webpage at http://sbs.mnsu.edu/socialwork/graduate/.
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Program is offered in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the
Department of Social Work, Minnesota State University. Program continuation is contingent upon on funding from the federal Title
IV-E Program as part of P.L. 96-272 (Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act).
MSU Mankato, MSW Child Welfare Stipend Program Application – rrw – revised 20 March 2015.
2
MSW TITLE IV-E CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
Minnesota State University, Mankato
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (do not submit Introductory or Instruction pages)
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE no later than the end of business on 24 April 2015 IN THE MSU MANKATO’S
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK.
READ the instructions closely. Handwritten applications and essays will not be accepted.
1. Complete the Application form
2. Respond to the 3 required essay questions instructions that appear on page 5.
3. Read, sign, and submit the Statement of Understanding (page 5).
4. Submit the application, your essay, and other required forms, in hard copy to Robin R. Wingo,
MSW, LISW, Department of Social Work, 358 Trafton Science Center North, Mankato MN
56001 OR by email to robin.wingo@mnsu.edu.
Please consult Robin R. Wingo via email at robin.wingo@mnsu.edu if you have questions
regarding your eligibility or the application.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST for your use. Do not submit with
application.
o
I have read the application packet and the Student Handbook.
o
My application is completed.
o
I have completed and attached three typed essays.
o
I have read and signed the Statement of Understanding.
o
I have sent or delivered the completed documents to Robin R. Wingo.
MSU Mankato, MSW Child Welfare Stipend Program Application – rrw – revised 20 March 2015.
3
MSU,M Department of Social Work
MSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Program Application
Please provide the following:
Name
Tech I.D (if available)
Permanent Address
City, State, Zip
School Address
City,State,Zip
Telephone:
Email Address :
Permanent U.S. Citizen?
Yes _______ No________
(attach documentation – copy of birth
certificate or driver’s license)
Contact Person and Telephone Number:
____________________________________________________________________
I.
Academic Information
Accepted into Traditional MSW program ____, beginning classes _________________________________
OR
Accepted into Advanced Standing MSW program, ____beginning classes____________________________
Any alterations to your acceptance into the MSW program must be reported and WILL affect participation in
this program.
II.
Have you previously received Title IV-E funding as an undergraduate?
No____ (skip to Employment) Yes____ (complete this section)
Name of school or institution with which you were funded:___________________________________
Are you employed in state, tribal, or county child welfare currently? No___ Yes___
Where?_____________________________________________________________________________
How much employment are you committed to?
_________months
How much employment have you completed?
_________months
Have you requested a delay of your employment requirement. Yes___ No___
Who have you contacted? (provide name and telephone number)__________________________________
MSU Mankato, MSW Child Welfare Stipend Program Application – rrw – revised 20 March 2015.
4
III.
Employment and/or Volunteer Experience Information
Please submit a resume that clearly describes agencies, locations, tasks or responsibilities, and dates for all
child welfare or human service related work, paid or volunteer.
IV. Essays
Please respond to each question with a 1 to 2 page essay that is typed, double-spaced, and uses standard 12pnt
font and 1” margins. Attach each essay to this application.
1. Discuss your interest in, and commitment to, working in public child welfare services. Provide
examples from your past work, volunteer and/or academic experiences.
2. Describe your professional and career goals and how studies in child welfare will assist you to achieve
these goals.
3. Describe your commitment to culturally sensitive and culturally responsive social work practice,
particularly with persons often served by public child welfare services. Illustrate this commitment with
examples from your own experiences.
STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
I, ________________________ (print name), certify that I am a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and I am an
admitted MSW student in good standing with the Department of Social Work and the College of Graduate
Studies at MSU Mankato. I have read and understand the application and the Student Handbook related to
the MSUM Department of Social Work Minnesota MSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Program.
If I am awarded a Child Welfare Scholar Program stipend, I understand that
 I must provide documentation to the program director that a Department of Human Services
background check has been conducted prior to receiving the first stipend payment. The program
director will assist with this process.
 the MSUM financial aid office will be informed of this stipend and that the stipend may affect my
financial aid,
 I must maintain my good standing in the MSW Social Work program and the College of Graduate
Studies,
 I must be registered as a full time student each semester that I receive the stipend,
 I must attend the required workshops and/or seminars,
 I must complete the required social work child welfare elective and placements, and
 I understand that if I want to continue my stipend status for more than one semester, I must complete
the documentation required by the Child Welfare Program Staff.
Further, I understand that I will be required to sign a formal contract that includes details of the payback
portion of the MSW TIV-E CWSP.
Signature/Date
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Program is offered in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Department of Social
Work, Minnesota State University. Program continuation is contingent upon on funding from the federal Title IV-E Program as part of P.L. 96-272
(Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act).
MSU Mankato, MSW Child Welfare Stipend Program Application – rrw – revised 20 March 2015.
5