Grants & Stipends
CalSWEC Mission
The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) is a partnership between the Schools of Social Work, public human services agencies, and other related professional organizations that facilitates the integration of education and practice to assure effective, culturally competent service delivery to the people of California.
California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) was instituted at CSUN’s Department of Social Work, in 2007. The CalSWEC Stipend Program is funded through Title IV-E monies from the federal government which has been designated for child welfare training. CalSWEC provides financial support to MSW students in exchange for a commitment to work in a public child welfare agency, within the State of California, for a minimum of two years. It is hoped that students will continue their career in public child welfare beyond their employment obligation.
The first-year designated practicum placement is a non-profit child welfare agency that targets Title IV-E children and families. The second year designated practicum placement is a county public child welfare agency (example: DCFS), where students will have the opportunity to practice and develop skills and tasks consistent with those of Children’s Social Work in public child welfare.
As with all stipends, there will be a competitive application process and availability is dependent on funding and agency availability. Those interested must apply to CSUN’s MSW Program first and application information will be distributed upon admittance to the MSW program.
CSUN’s Department of Social Work offers a full-time CalSWEC IV-E program for those admitted to the on-campus 2 year MSW program and a part-time CalSWEC IV-E program for those admitted to the on-campus 3 year MSW program and are current county child welfare employees who are eligible for release time.
Full-time CalSWEC IV-E Stipend Program (on-campus 2 year students only)Program Description: IV-E Stipend Recipients will receive $18,500 per academic year (totaling $37,000) and upon graduation, must obtain a position in public child welfare for a minimum of one year for each year of financial support received. This employment obligation or “work back” must be in the state of California, at a county public child welfare agency (including L.A. County) for two (2) years.
Part-time CalSWEC IV-E Stipend Program (on-campus 3 year students who are current employees of a county Public Child Welfare Agency)Program Description: IV-E Stipend Recipients will receive reimbursement for tuition and fees, and the cost for required textbooks, travel for each day of class or practicum work (up to $14,164 per year). As a public child welfare employee who received a letter of support and release time, employee agrees to return to that agency immediately after MSW graduation and render two years of continuous and satisfactory full time employment in a position at least a level appropriate to a new MSW in child welfare services.
Necessary Requirements for either Full-Time or Part-Time CalSWEC IV-E Stipend Program:
- Valid U.S. driver’s license
- Current automobile insurance
- Successful security clearances (criminal, medical, psychological)
- U.S. citizenship or possession of a permanent United States Work Visa
- Enrollment and completion of a Child Welfare elective course, which takes place in the concentration year
Designed to prepare and recruit students for careers in public and community mental health, the stipend requires students to obtain a second-year field placement with an LA County Department of Mental Health directly operated or contracted agency.
The stipend provide one year of financial support in the amount of $18,500, and is available to students in our on-campus two-year or three year programs or our online program (students must be interning in LA County) and require a one calendar year work back commitment with a county-operated or county contracted mental health program. LA County sets specific guidelines regarding qualified employment obligation positions. Students will be provided additional information about this stipend as they begin the 2nd year field placement process.
As with all stipends, there will be a competitive application process and availability is dependent on funding and agency availability. Students should also be prepared with other financial aid plans should they not be selected. Also, the award of some stipends may change the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for.
More information will be emailed or presented to admitted students as it becomes relevant.
GSWEC is a collaboration among six Graduate Schools of Social Work and nine community agencies specializing in services for older adults. It was established in 1999 to provide aging-focused 2nd year field placements and competency-driven geriatric social work field education. GSWEC field placements are structured to provide students with a well rounded experience of social work with older adults.
This stipend, originally funded by John A. Hartford Foundation in 1999, is for those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the geriatrics field and gives them an opportunity to be placed with prominent health and social services providers for the aging.
Students in any of our on or off-campus programs will be eligible to apply for the stipend for their second year of field. The stipend is $4000-$6000 with the expectation that the student will complete a minimum of 20 hours per week at the GSWEC agency; Wednesdays are a mandatory field day. Some sites may allow a minimum of 16 hours per week. There is no work-back requirement for GSWEC stipend recipients.
As with all stipends, there will be a competitive application process and availability is dependent on funding and agency availability. Students should also be prepared with other financial aid plans should they not be selected. Also, the award of some stipends may change the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for.
More information will be emailed or presented to admitted students as it becomes relevant.
DCFS Title IV-E MSW Internship Program
Designed to prepare students for careers in public child welfare. The field placement is located in the Palmdale and Lancaster DCFS offices.
The stipend of $18,500 for your second year field placement, paid in the form of monthly stipend checks (September to May), is available to students in our MSW programs and requires a one calendar year work back commitment in LA County DCFS following graduation. You will apply in the Spring Semester of your first year, and if selected, your second year placement is with DCFS in the Antelope Valley.
Students must take a required child welfare elective and there may be other requirements.
As with all stipends, there will be a competitive application process and availability is dependent on funding and agency availability. Students should also be prepared with other financial aid plans should they not be selected. Also, the award of some stipends may change the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for.
More information will be emailed or presented to admitted students as it becomes relevant.
We also have a number of agencies that offer stipends to students who meet a specific need, typically they are looking for bi-lingual interns.
If you meet the criteria for one of these stipends, you will be informed by the Field Department.
All stipends and grants have a competitive application process and availability is dependent on funding and agency availability.
Students should also be prepared with other financial aid plans should they not be selected. Also, the award of some stipends may change the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for.
More information will be emailed or presented to admitted students as it becomes relevant.