Specialize in Child Welfare in Your Elective Courses and Field Placement
The University Partnership Program is a unique and beneficial collaboration among the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), 12 of Ohio’s public university departments of social work, the Ohio University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS), the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP), and Ohio’s 85 Public Children Service Agencies (PCSAs).
Students in Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree programs take special child welfare courses, complete a field placement in a public children service agency, and receive an experiential learning (paid placement) incentive (while in practicum) and an employment incentive after being hired as a public children service agency caseworker or supervisor within 180 days after graduation. Students can choose to fulfill the employment commitment in any of the 85 county CPS agencies throughout Ohio.
Making a Positive Difference in Public Child Welfare/Child Protective Services
The purpose of the Child Welfare University Partnership Program (UPP) is to positively influence recruitment and retention in public child welfare while increasing readiness to provide quality services to children and their families. Social workers who participate in a program such as UPP stay longer and are more satisfied with their employment than those who did not complete such a program.
Experiential Learning (Paid Placement) and Employment Incentive Upon Hire
Undergraduate Paid Placement:The experiential learning incentive (paid placement) for undergraduate students will be $3,000 per semester paid at the end of each successful semester in the field practicum. Therefore, the total amount of the experiential learning incentive will be capped at $6,000 for each undergraduate UPP student during their senior year while the student is placed in their field practicum with a public children service agency.
Graduate Paid Placement:For MSW students, the internship experiential learning incentive will be $4,000 per semester and is capped at a total of $12,000 for three successful semesters. There is no payback obligation for the experiential learning incentive.
Employment Incentive:In addition to the above, the University Partnership Program provides an employment incentive to social work students who complete the program and successfully gain employment in a public children service agency in Ohio. The student will receive $5,000 for each year of participation in the UPP program. It is important to note that the maximum amount of the employment incentive is $10,000 for 2 (two) years of participation in the program and $5,000 for 1 (one) year of participation in the UPP program. Students must remain employed at an Ohio Public Children Service Agency for each year of participation in the UPP program. If the employment is terminated before the duration of the employment commitment and the student is unsuccessful in finding a new public children service position, they will be responsible for paying back to Ohio University a prorated amount of the employment incentive minus the time employed at the PCSA.
How to Apply
Students interested in applying for UPP must fill out an application and interview with the UPP Campus Coordinator. Applications for enrollment in the CWUPP program are online via the Social Work Program in the College of Health Sciences and Professions.
If you have questions, please contact:
Tracy A. Pritchard, MSW, LISW-S
Professor of Social Work Instruction and UPP Campus Coordinator
pritchar@ohio.edu