Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in Michigan’s Child Welfare System – Children’s Protective Services, Foster Care, Licensing and Adoption.
The aim of this program is to recruit, retain and educate students to be leaders in the field of child welfare. The fellowship includes requirements for course work and practicum education. Additionally, fellows will receive a stipend. Students will be contractually obligated to search for and accept employment in public, private, or tribal child welfare agencies in the State of Michigan upon graduation.
Title IV-E Funding
- BSW students – $5000 per semester up to 2 semesters during enrollment in SWRK 488 and SWRK 489
- MSW students (Full Program Only) – $7500 per semester up to 2 semesters during enrollment in SWRK 595 and SWRK 596.
- This funding is considered Other Financial Assistance (OFA) and will be taken into consideration when determining a student’s eligibility for federal, state, or institutional aid programs. Payments will apply towards any current term outstanding balance prior to refunding. If a student does not have a balance or if this payment creates a credit balance, a refund will be issued to the student based on the refund preferences set up on the student’s Eagle Onecard.
Important Dates
BSW and MSW Child Welfare Fellowship applications for Winter 2027 are due by 8/1/26.
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
BSW & MSW
Format
On campus; Hybrid
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Important Dates
BSW and MSW Child Welfare Fellowship applications for Winter 2027 are due by 8/1/26.
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
BSW
Format
On Campus, Hybrid, Online
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in Michigan’s Child Welfare System – Children’s Protective Services, Foster Care, Licensing and Adoption.
The aim of this program is to recruit, retain and educate students to be leaders in the field of child welfare. The fellowship includes requirements for course work and practicum education. Additionally, fellows will receive a stipend. Students will be contractually obligated to search for and accept employment in public, private, or tribal child welfare agencies in the State of Michigan upon graduation.
Title IV-E Funding
- BSW students – $5000 per semester up to 2 semesters during enrollment in SWRK 488 and SWRK 489
- This funding is considered Other Financial Assistance (OFA) and will be taken into consideration when determining a student’s eligibility for federal, state, or institutional aid programs. Payments will apply towards any current term outstanding balance prior to refunding. If a student does not have a balance or if this payment creates a credit balance, a refund will be issued to the student based on the refund preferences set up on the student’s Eagle Onecard.
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
BSW
Format
On Campus, Hybrid, Online
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in Michigan’s Child Welfare System – Children’s Protective Services, Foster Care, Licensing and Adoption.
The aim of this program is to recruit, retain and educate students to be leaders in the field of child welfare. The fellowship includes requirements for course work and practicum education. Additionally, fellows will receive a stipend. Students will be contractually obligated to search for and accept employment in public, private, or tribal child welfare agencies in the State of Michigan upon graduation.
Title IV-E Funding
- BSW students – $5000 per semester up to 2 semesters during enrollment in SWRK 488 and SWRK 489
- This funding is considered Other Financial Assistance (OFA) and will be taken into consideration when determining a student’s eligibility for federal, state, or institutional aid programs. Payments will apply towards any current term outstanding balance prior to refunding. If a student does not have a balance or if this payment creates a credit balance, a refund will be issued to the student based on the refund preferences set up on the student’s Eagle Onecard.
Title IV-E Eligibility
Students may be enrolled in full-time or part-time programs. Students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, DACA status or eligible noncitizens to participate in the fellowship.
Title IV-E Fellows Agree To:
- Complete all necessary coursework
- Complete their field education placement at a public, private, or tribal child welfare agency in the State of Michigan
- Be employed in an approved position at a public, private, or tribal child welfare agency in the State of Michigan for the minimum payback period, upon graduation.
Specialized Courses
Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellows must complete the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Certificate that includes the following courses:
Bachelor of Social Work
SWKE 442 Contemporary Child Welfare
One additional elective from the following list:
- SWKE 375 Working with Youth in Care
- SWKE 411 Ethics in Social Work
- SWKE 431 Substance Abuse
- SWKE 443 Assessment Issues in Domestic Violence
- SWKE 447 Human Trafficking
- SWKE 454 Psychoeducational Groups
- SWKE 457 Separation, Loss & Grief
- SWKE 462 Practice with LGBT Population
- SWKE 463 Social Work Practice with Legal Offenders
- SWKE 467 Crisis Intervention
- SWKE 474 Child Welfare, Substance Abuse and Addiction
- SWKE 441 Motivational Interviewing
- SWKE 432 Engaging Across Disabilities
- SWKE 478 Social Injustice of the Juvenile Justice System
Master of Social Work
SWKE 542 Contemporary Child Welfare
One additional elective from the following list:
- 4 credit hours of electives from the following list:
- SWKE 511 Ethics in Social Work
- SWKE 532 Engaging Across Disabilities
- SWKE 541 Motivational Interviewing
- SWKE 544 Assessment Issues in Domestic Violence
- SWKE 547 Human Trafficking
- SWKE 557 Separation, Loss & Grief
- SWKE 562 Practice with LGBTQ+ People
- SWKE 573 Child Welfare, Substance Abuse and Addiction
- SWKE 661 Crisis Intervention
- SWKE 666 Impact of Trauma on Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children
- SWKE 668 Complicated Grief and Trauma
- SWKE 676 Social Work Services in Schools
- SWKE 686 School-Based SW Assessment and Intervention
Specialized Field Education Placement
Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellows must complete their field placement in a public, private, or tribal child welfare agency in the State of Michigan.
Application
If you are interested in applying for the Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship, please fill out this brief interest form.
Upcoming Fellowship Events at Eastern Michigan University
Upcoming Fellowship Events at Eastern Michigan University
EMU Frequently Asked Questions
Courses
If I earned the Child Welfare Certificate Endorsement during my BSW program, will I have to retake those courses in graduate school?
No, you would not have to retake the courses if the CWCE was previously earned through your BSW.
EMU has a BSW Program and an MSW program. Is the fellowship offered in both programs?
Yes, the fellowship is offered to BSW students and Full Program MSW students. It is not currently offered to Advanced Standing MSW students.
What format types are available for BSW students?
EMU offers in-person and hybrid BSW and MSW programs with on campus and online courses.
Stipend
How will the stipend be provided to me?
The stipend funding is considered Other Financial Assistance (OFA) and will be taken into consideration when determining a student’s eligibility for federal, state, or institutional aid programs. Payments will apply towards any current term outstanding balance prior to refunding. If you do not have a balance or if this payment creates a credit balance, a refund will be issued to you based on the refund preferences set up on your Eagle Onecard.
How can I spend the stipend?
The stipend is to be used to support your education.
Field Placement
What are my options for field placement?
Students can complete a field placement at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, private agencies or any of the tribal agencies. The field placement is an opportunity to provide hands-on preparation for the workforce, therefore the placement should be in a role primarily involved in doing child welfare work. This may include CPS investigator or foster care case manager.
Do I have to find my own field placement?
No, students will work closely with the Field Education to find a field placement to satisfy the objectives of the Child Welfare Fellowship.
Employment
I don’t know where to search for jobs, where can I find help?
The program coordinator is available to assist you with the job search process.
How can I find out if my job qualifies?
The program coordinator can verify if the position you secured qualifies.
To whom do I provide my job search details?
The program coordinator is responsible for keeping track of your payback requirements. Be sure to stay in contact with them after graduation! It is important to stay in contact with your coordinator at EMU until the completion of your payback period.
Contact Admissions
Sarah Shea, PhD, LMSW, IECMH-E®
School of Social Work
Eastern Michigan University
[email protected]
