Social Work

How to Defray the Cost of your MSW if You Intend to Work in the Field of Child Welfare and Protection

How to Defray the Cost of your MSW if You Intend to Work in the Field of Child Welfare and Protection
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Nedda Gilbert profile
Nedda Gilbert August 3, 2018

If you are an aspiring Master’s of Social Work (MSW) student with an interest in working in the field of child welfare and protection, there may be a way to help pay for your MSW. The Title IV-E stipend program offers financial support for qualifying students who specialize in the practice area of child welfare and pursue a career in the field.

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This unique stipend grew out of the pressing demand for well-trained professionals in this high-need field. With a shortage of competent workers, a legislative and funding plan was introduced to incentivize sophisticated and experienced professionals to enter the area of child welfare. The funding particularly targeted the training of social workers, because these degree holders have the best skill sets, ethical sensibilities, and competencies for the job.

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act was part of the Child Welfare and Adoption Assistance Act of 1980, which supplies federal funds to states in exchange for offering foster care and adoption assistance programs. In this case, Title IV-E stipends and funds are made available through participating universities. Eligibility for the program varies by state and school, but generally it targets aspiring Bachelor’s of Social work (BSW) and MSW students who intend to specialize in child welfare.

The University of Houston has been entrusted with hosting a website for the Title IV-E program, and keeps an extremely useful (and frequently updated) matrix of stipend opportunities in all 50 states. You can view that matrix here. While eligibility, stipend amounts, and requirements vary tremendously from state to state and school to school, this guide might help you think outside of the box in terms of paying for your MSW education.

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About the Author

Ms. Nedda Gilbert is a seasoned clinical social worker, author, and educational consultant with 25 years of experience helping college-bound and graduate students find their ideal schools. She is a prolific author, including The Princeton Review Guide to the Best Business Schools and Essays that Made a Difference. Ms. Gilbert has been a guest writer for Forbes and a sought-after keynote speaker on college admissions. Previously, she played a crucial role at the Princeton Review Test Preparation Company and was Chairman of the Board of Graduate Philadelphia. Ms. Gilbert holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University and is a certified interdisciplinary collaborative family law professional in New Jersey.

About the Editor

Tom Meltzer spent over 20 years writing and teaching for The Princeton Review, where he was lead author of the company's popular guide to colleges, before joining Noodle.

To learn more about our editorial standards, you can click here.


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Categorized as: Social WorkSocial Work & Counseling & Psychology