Child Welfare and Stipend Program

Tuition Assistance Programs

The Department of Children Services tuition assistance program provides financial support to selected undergraduate-level social work majors who are committed to working with the children and families served by DCS upon completion of their Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW/BSSW) degree at a participating university.

Please see the website for more information or set up an appointment with the Director of Field Education, Professor April Wilson.

Program Guidelines

To remain in good standing, program participants must: 

• Remain in good standing at their university.
• Maintain an overall GPA of 2.6 in social work courses.
• Successfully complete and receive a minimum grade of 'B-' for the Child Welfare I & II courses offered by their university.
• Successfully complete the university field placement requirement, which must include a field placement of a minimum of 370 hours in a Tennessee DCS Regional Office.
• Submit all requested information and documentation to DCS (e.g. transcripts, forms, updates).

The Certification Program is to recruit and develop social work students who are committed to working in child welfare for the Department of Children Service workforce. This program offers students the Child Welfare Case Management Certification and the benefits therein without providing financial assistance while the student is in school. Students do not go into a contractual agreement to work for the department once they graduate in the Certification Program.