North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative At Western Carolina University
Background
The North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative was established in 1999 to improve public child welfare services in North Carolina including the education of Child Welfare Professionals and the retention of highly trained social workers in the field of Child Welfare. The program is administered by the Jordan Institute for Families at UNC Chapel Hill, the Collaborative is a joint effort of the NC Division of Social Services, the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services, the National Association of Social Workers NC Chapter, and the following social work education programs across North Carolina:
East Carolina University
Appalachian State University
Joint Master of Social Work Program (NC AT&T University and University of North Carolina
at Greensboro)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Fayetteville State University
North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina Central University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Western Carolina University
The Mission Of Child Welfare
Child Welfare works to ensure safe, permanent and nurturing families for children. Services focus on supporting and stabilizing families. When this is not possible, placements for children through foster care or adoption are found. Child welfare is a collaboration of professionals, community members and the family to ensure that decisions are in the best interest of the child, family and community.
Western Carolina University
The Child Welfare Education Collaborative at Western began in 2008 when the General Assembly voted to increase the number of Universities participating in this program. Western Carolina University participates in the BSW program for Collaborative Scholars. Applications deadlines are April 1 and November 1 of each year.
Who Should Apply
Any BSW student interested in a career in public child welfare is eligible to applyCandidates must be admitted into the BSW program
Students must have a GPA of 3.0 in Social Work classes to be admitted to the program
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in Social Work classes to remain in the program
Priority is given to students who can participate in the program for their final 3 semesters and to current DSS staff members
Application deadlines April 1 and November 1 each year
All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States and have access to a car for field placement assignments.
Award Recipients are required
To be accepted into the Social Work Program at WCU
Execute a Student Contract Agreement with the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative
Register for specific courses identified by the Collaborative
Complete field placements in public child welfare
Participate in child welfare trainings and seminars offered by the Collaborative
Upon graduation, secure employment in a North Carolina public child welfare agency
Provide employment reports and other information as requested
Participate in an on-going program evaluation
Awards are contingent upon satisfactory progress in the Collaborative and the availability of funds.
If Collaborative Scholars do not fulfill the requirements of work repayment they will be responsible to repay the award amount provided by the Collaborative with interest as they would with a student loan.
Benefits
Education and training specific to child welfare including completion of the NC Pre-Service Program
Financial support, the current award is $4000 per semester that the scholar is in the program
Advanced job placement upon graduation
Job placement assistance
Statewide training and networking opportunities
Child Welfare Scholar Alumni Benefits
Applications
Application for Child Welfare Collaborative
Department of Social Services Application
Deadline is April 1 and November 1
Turn completed applications into Social Work Office, McKee G04
After applications have been received a selection committee comprised of WCU faculty, child welfare administrators, former Collaborative Scholars will recommend the acceptance of new scholars
Links
NC-Child Welfare Education Collaborative Central Office
http://ssw.unc.edu/cwec/
Realistic Job Preview
http://ssw.unc.edu/jif/rr/rjp.htm
NC Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/
NC DSS Children Services Web Site
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/childrensservices/
Field Education
Transfer of Learning Manual
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/childrensservices/docs/TOLManual.pdf
Publications
Practice Notes http://ssw.unc.edu/fcrp/Cspn/cspn.htm
Training Matters http://ssw.unc.edu/fcrp/tm/tm_mainpage.htm
Fostering Perspectives http://ssw.unc.edu/fcrp/fp/
Write Enough http://www.writeenough.org.uk/default.htm
Other Links
NASW https://www.socialworkers.org/
CSWE http://www.cswe.org/
Western Carolina University Child Welfare Education Collaborative Scholars and Graduates
Meghan Crews
Ramona Dowdell
Whitney Harris
Amanda Hostetter
Cindy Hoyle
Emily Lovik
Tammy Orr
Haven Phillips
Frieda Saylor
Holly Smith
Steven Whitehorn
Monica Wildcat
Lisa Weeks
Western Carolina University Child Welfare Education Collaborative Faculty
Tonya Westbrook, Ph.D.
Phone: 828-227-2578
Email: twestbrook@wcu.edu
Office Address: McKee G08-A
Donna Hensley Beck, MSW
Phone: 828-227-2647
Email: dhbeck@wcu.edu
Office Address: McKee G08-C