Application Form

To apply for the stipend program, complete the application form and write a two page essay which addresse the four questions listed in the application. 

Deadlines

The deadline for Stipend Applications for those applying to the MSW Advanced Standing Program is the first Monday in March of each year.  The deadline for Applications for those applying to the MSW Standard Program is the first Monday in April of each year. 

Process

The process proceeds as follows:

1. Students' stipend applications, stipend essays, school applications and school essays are reviewed by the Child Welfare Stipend Application Review Committee consisting of both Child Welfare Training Project staff and Directors and Child Protective Services Administrators and Supervisors.
2. Select students are referred on to an interview with an interview panel consisting of Child Welfare Training Project Supervisors and Child Protective Services Supervisors and Training Officers.
3. Notification letters are mailed to all applicants.

The Selection of Stipend Students is primarily based on whether or not the committee and interview panel feel that the student would be a good fit as an employee at CPS, can complete the obligations of the Stipend Contract, and can complete the Child Welfare curriculum. Selection criteria include but are not limited to the following:

1. Evidence that the student understands the requirements of the work committment and is willing and able to work at Arizona Child Protective Services for the contracted time upon graduation.
2. Evidence of ability to scholastically succeed and complete the MSW program in the contracted amount of time (i.e. 18 months for Advanced Standing students and 21 to 24 months for Standard Program students).
3. Evidence that the student could competently work with both children who have been abused and neglected and with their parents/guardians who have abused and neglected them.
4. Evidence that the student can effectively communicate with and collaboratively work with team members including the clients' extended family members, foster care providers, community stakeholders, social service providers, mental health care clinicians, attorneys, judges, and CPS supervisors.  
5. Evidence that the student can have empathy for vulnerable and marginalized children and families and can work cross-culturally with diverse populations including people whose values may be different from the students' own. 
6. Evidence that the student has enough familiarity and/or experience with poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect that daily exposure to such issues would not be personally overwhelming to the student.   
7. Evidence of writing competency based on the stipend essay, school essay, and inpromtpu writing exercise administered during the interview.
8. Evidence of a desire to work in Child Welfare, specifically at Child Protective Services.