North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative (NCCWEC) and Appalachian State University's Social Work Program

The Social Work Program at ASU is 1 of 6 public universities in North Carolina helping to change the standard for North Carolina Child Welfare by increasing the number and diversity of well-trained and highly committed Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates and Masters of Social Work graduates employed in child welfare in local county departments of social services (DSS). Appalachian State University BSW students who are interested in employment in child welfare are encouraged to apply to become a child welfare scholar within the Social Work Program. Those who are interested in applying for a service award complete a written application and participate in an interview with the Selection Committee. Those selected as Scholars attend specific classes, additional professional trainings and a field placement in a DSS child welfare unit. Eight (8) service awards are available each semester: $3,000 for full-time BSW majors and reimbursement for tuition, books and travel for part-time BSW majors through Appalachian's Social Work Program. Each Scholar is expected to provide a year of employment in child welfare in a North Carolina DSS for each year or partial year (one to two semesters) in which an award is received. Social work students benefit from this project in the following ways:

Selection of a number of social work students who receive monetary scholar awards to assist in their education and future employment in a child welfare setting in a DSS

Eligibility of other social work students as waivers, who receive the required education and training to work in a child welfare setting in a DSS

Exposure of all social work students to knowledge, current practices and policies in the field of child welfare in North Carolina through social work courses

For more information, contact Judith Wesson, Child Welfare Education Coordinator or view this page http://www.soc.appstate.edu/socialwork/nccwec.htm