Collaborative Scholar Programs:

• Appalachian State University (BSW)
• East Carolina University (BSW & MSW)
• Fayetteville State University (MSW)
• North Carolina State University (BSW)
• The Joint MSW Collaborative Scholar Program (MSW), NC A&T SU, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MSW)
• The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (MSW & BSW)
• The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (BSW)
• The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (BSW)
• Western Carolina University (BSW & MSW)

The Collaborative seeks to increase the number of professionally educated social workers in public child welfare in North Carolina. The annual turnover rate for NC county child welfare workers is 44%, and only 30% of current NC child welfare staff has social work degrees. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Social Work began participating in the Collaborative during the fall 2002 as a “waiver” school. A “waiver school” is one which offers a specialized classroom and field instruction curriculum in public child welfare to BSW and MSW students to prepare for practice in public child welfare. During the academic year of 2008-2009, UNC Charlotte became a Collaborative Scholar Program and will continue this status during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Upper Division BSW Social Work Majors and MSW students are eligible to apply to the Collaborative as a “waiver” or a “scholar” student. The NC Pre-service Training competencies adopted by the NC Division of Social Services are integrated into a specialized curriculum consisting of (1) a Child Welfare course (SOWK 3090 or SOWK 7090) which must be completed with a grade of “B” or better and (2) a Field Placement experience at a NC county DSS working with Child and Protective Services. Upon successful completion of the Child Welfare course and Field Placement, along with the other required classes for their degree,  “waiver” and “scholar” students receive a certificate indicating they have successfully completed the Pre-service Training competencies. Waiver students may be hired at a NC county DSS with 6 months of experience and Scholars may be hired with one year of social work experience. “Waiver” students are not obligated to work in a county DSS upon graduation. If a student applies and is selected as a Scholar student, the student must actively seek employment at DSS – Youth and Family Services within the state of North Carolina and must work one (1) year at the DSS-YFS for each year of funding received.  If they do not work at DSS for the time specified by their awards, the student must repay any funding received with interest. Please contact Susan Marchetti, Principal Investigator-UNC Charlotte Child Welfare Collaborative, for further information at 704-687-7932 or email at smarche3@uncc.edu.