Benefits

$7,000 stipend: Undergraduate students selected for the Montana Child Welfare Training Partnership receive a $7,000 stipend per academic year. After graduation the students agree to work for the Montana Child & Family Services Division (CFSD) for a specific amount of time (usually two years), starting within six months after graduation. CFSD and the Center work with students to help find an appropriate placement.

Additional training: The program also offers additional training opportunities for the selected students. Through the partnership with CFSD, students build additional competencies for practice in a public child welfare setting. Students work directly with professionals in foster care programs, adoption assistance, and group home care, and students build skills for working with professionals in medical, educational, and judicial fields.

Eligible Schools and Majors

University of Montana - School of Social Work

Montana State University - Human Development & Family Science

Montana State University Billings - Human Services

Undergraduate Student Eligibility

Undergraduate applicants must be:

• Declared majors in social work, human development and family sciences, or human services
• In good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0
• Able to commit to employment with CFSD after graduation. Six months of employment are required for each semester of the stipend.

Academic Requirements

Students selected for the program take classes to build a substantial body of knowledge in public child welfare. Coursework in human behavior, child abuse and neglect, social work or human service practice methods, and family systems prepare students for the required practicum or internship with the Montana Child & Family Services Division (CFSD).

Core Curriculum

Required classes for the Montana Child Welfare Training Partnership

University of Montana:

• SW 420, Child Abuse and Neglect
• SW 450, Children and Youth at Risk
• SW 488, Social Work Practicum with Child and Family Services Emphasis

One of the following courses: PSYX 340, Abnormal Psychology PSYX 348, Psychology of Family Violence SW 423, Addiction Studies

Montana State University:

• HDFS 459 Helping the Hurt Child
• HDFS 359 Theories and Skill for Human Services
• HDFS 498 Internship with Child and Family Services Emphasis

One of the following courses: PSYX 340, Abnormal Psychology HDFS 460, Parenting Education and Child Guidance CHTH 205, Drugs and Society

Montana State University-Billings:

• REHA 453 Case Management and Community Resource
• EDEC 310 Child in the Family
• HS 395 Supervised Field Experience 1 in the Human Service with Child and Family Service Emphasis

One of the following courses: PSYX 340, Abnormal Psychology REHA 301 Principles of Counseling and Group Theory REHA 406 Assessment in Human Service and Addiction Programs

Selected students must remain in good standing within their academic major to continue in the program, or they will be expected to repay the amount of financial support they received.

Responsibilities

The Montana Child Welfare Training Partnership is based on employment with the Montana Child & Family Services Division (CFSD).

• Participants must accept a job with CFSD within six months of graduation. The Center and CFSD will work with students to find an appropriate placement in Montana.
• The work agreement is generally two years – six months of employment for each semester of stipend.

CFSD jobs are located across the state. The Center and CFSD want to help students find a placement that is a good fit. For questions about job placements, contact Kerrie Ghenie at the University of Montana Center for Children, Families & Workforce Development, kerrie.ghenie@mso.umt.edu.