The UConn School of Social Work has a longstanding partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create a more diverse, professionally trained, master level public child welfare workforce. The DCF Child Welfare Workforce Training Program aims to build a pipeline for a professionally trained workforce to serve children and families involved with DCF. A cohort of up to five MSW students will receive a $4,000 scholarship and specialized classroom and practicum training to work at a Connecticut DCF office once their MSW degree is completed.

Student Eligibility:

• Interest in child welfare
• Minimum 3.0 CUM GPA
• MSW Individuals, Groups, and Families 
  • Hartford Campus advanced year or advanced standing Connecticut students
  • Online and Stamford Cohort advanced year Connecticut students
  • Non-DCF employees  
  • Meet UConn and practicum agency requirements
• Spanish-speaking students preferred

Application Process:

• Complete the application and include a statement of interest (refer to the application for requirements) and an unofficial transcript

Eligible applicants will be selected for an interview with the program leadership team to determine acceptance to the program.

Student Requirements:

• Maintain a minimum 3.0 CUM GPA and remain in good academic standing
• Complete a background screening – CPS, fingerprinting, and driver’s license check, and practicum at a Connecticut DCF area office
• Enroll in the approved child welfare course, HBEL 5381- Child Maltreatment: History, Theory, Prevention, and Intervention
  • *SWEL 5318- Core Concepts of Child and Adolescent Trauma will fulfill the above course requirement if it has already been taken.
• Accept a position for employment at DCF in Connecticut, if offered, and remain employed at DCF for two years
  • If DCF employment is not offered or available within 3 months after graduation, graduates are not obligated to wait for a DCF position
  • Return or repay the DCF portion ($2,000) of the scholarship if the requirements and the conferral of the MSW degree are not met

Scholarships are disbursed once grades are posted for the fall ($2,000) and spring ($2,000) semesters.