Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
Working in child welfare is an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience. Every day, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in need.Â
Whether you’re providing direct support, advocating for policy changes, or working behind the scenes to improve services, your work is vital to ensuring the safety, well-being, and future success of vulnerable children. It’s a challenging field that requires compassion, resilience, and dedication, but the opportunity to be a part of positive change in the lives of children and families makes it all worthwhile!
The State of Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in the 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 field 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.
Fellowship Funding
Regular program is 57 credits; Advanced Standing is 36 credits.
- 57 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 4 semesters
- 36 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 3 semesters
Important Dates
MSW Applications for 2025 start will open on September 1, 2024 and close February 1, 2025.
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
MSW
Format
On Campus, Hybrid, Online
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Important Dates
MSW Applications for 2025 start will open on September 1, 2024 and close February 1, 2025.
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
MSW
Format
On Campus, Hybrid, Online
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
Working in child welfare is an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience. Every day, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in need.
Whether you’re providing direct support, advocating for policy changes, or working behind the scenes to improve services, your work is vital to ensuring the safety, well-being, and future success of vulnerable children. It’s a challenging field that requires compassion, resilience, and dedication, but the opportunity to be a part of positive change in the lives of children and families makes it all worthwhile!
The State of Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in the 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 field 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.
Fellowship Funding
Regular program is 57 credits; Advanced Standing is 36 credits.
- 57 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 4 semesters
- 36 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 3 semesters
Program At-A-Glance
Program Available
MSW
Format
On Campus, Hybrid, Online
Program Availability
Full-time and Part-time
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship
Working in child welfare is an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience. Every day, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in need.
Whether you’re providing direct support, advocating for policy changes, or working behind the scenes to improve services, your work is vital to ensuring the safety, well-being, and future success of vulnerable children. It’s a challenging field that requires compassion, resilience, and dedication, but the opportunity to be a part of positive change in the lives of children and families makes it all worthwhile!
The State of Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in the 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 field 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.
Fellowship Funding
Regular program is 57 credits; Advanced Standing is 36 credits.
- 57 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 4 semesters
- 36 Credit MSW Students – $5000 per semester up to 3 semesters
Program Requirements
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellows 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 must agree to the following:
- Complete all necessary coursework
- Complete their field 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 & Certificate Requirement
Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellows must complete the following course work and Child Welfare Certificate requirement:
Enroll, participate, and complete the Child Welfare Certificate endorsed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
SW 471 Child Welfare
Required courses in human development (SW 811); and in social work practice, including content on cultural competency and anti-racist practice (SW 840 and SW 841)
Enrollment in at least one elective course whose content is relevant to child welfare practice, such as diversity. Participation in at least two workshops on topics relevant to child welfare competencies
Work Payback Requirements
Title IV-E fellows will be required to secure employment in an approved position at a public, private, or tribal child welfare agency in the State of Michigan following graduation. The length of requirement work payback will equal four months for each stipend received. For example, a fellow receiving three stipends during the program would be required to work for an approved child welfare agency in Michigan for twelve months following graduation.
Application
Your MSW application must be completed by the school’s deadline. Admittance into the Michigan Title IV-E Fellowship will be contingent upon admission into the School of Social Work.
Upcoming Fellowship Events at Michigan State University
Upcoming Fellowship Events at Michigan State University
MSU Frequently Asked Questions
Courses
Michigan State has a BASW and MSW, can I be a fellow in both programs?
Currently, the fellowship is offered only at the MSW level.Â
What program types are offered at MSU?
Students can participate full-time or part-time.Â
If I earned the Child Welfare Certificate Endorsement during my BSW program at another University, will I have to retake those courses?
No, you would not have to retake the courses if the CWCE was previously earned.Â
Stipend
How will the stipend be provided to me?
The stipend distribution will be distributed through our financial aid office.Â
How can I spend the stipend?
The stipend is to be used to support your education.Â
Field Placement
What are my options for field placement?
Students can find 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.Â
Do I have to find my own field placement?
No, students will work closely with the Office of Field Education to find a field placement to satisfy the objectives of the Child Welfare Fellowship.
Employment Payback
I don’t know where to search for jobs, where can I find help?
The program coordinator at MS is available to assist you with the job search process.
How can I find out if my job qualifies?
The program coordinator at MSU can verify if the position you secured qualifies.Â
Who do I provide my job search details with?
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 MSU until the completion of your payback period.Â
Contact Admissions
Elizabeth Montemayor, MSW
Child Welfare Program Coordinator
Michigan State University
[email protected]
(517) 432-4092