School of Social Work

Academic Programs

CWEB—FAQ

For which degrees may students enroll?

Eligible students may enroll for a bachelor's degree in social work (BASW, BSW) at any of the undergraduate schools or departments of social work in Pennsylvania accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved to participate in the CWEB program. The school's offering must include child welfare specific course work and public child welfare field instruction (internship) opportunities.

Which schools are accredited and approved?

The 14 programs approved in Pennsylvania are located at Bloomsburg University, California University, Edinboro University, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Marywood University, Millersville University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University and Widener University. The number of openings at each school is limited and may vary from year to year. Applicants may be enrolled in any of these 14 schools.

What is the application process?

  • The application process includes three distinct components:
  • Official acceptance as a social work major at one of the approved schools with status as at least a junior
  • A recommendation from the social work faculty of the school in which the applicant is enrolled; and
  • Application to the CWEB program for financial support

Persons who meet the basic qualifications may initiate their application through their social work faculty and with the CWEB program simultaneously. It is important that applicants clearly advise their school of their interest in a child welfare career and the CWEB program. CWEB applications may be filed any time after the beginning of the applicant's junior year. The deadline for submitting the attached CWEB application and résumé is March 15 each year. The selection of students is based upon criteria which include available funding, geographic distribution, space availability in the approved programs, date of application, availability of field placements (internships), grade point average, interest in child welfare career, and faculty recommendations. Download and print the CWEB application (PDF).

What if more applicants apply from one university than can be funded?

The purpose of this program is to strengthen public child welfare services in Pennsylvania. Thus, an attempt will be made to distribute the available financial support as broadly as possible across the state. If more students apply from any one university than can be offered financial support, any students not funded may nevertheless pursue child welfare courses, field placements (internships), and employment opportunities. The field of public child welfare is so large that there are many openings at almost all times. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission provides the gateway to these opportunities. Students may apply for civil service status and/or tests before graduation so they are in a position to accept employment immediately upon graduation. One particular civil service classification of interest to undergraduate social work students is the Social Casework Intern Program. One need not be enrolled in the CWEB program to participate. It can provide paid or unpaid field placements (internships) through individual counties near the student's school and can lead to immediate employment as a Caseworker II upon completion of the requirements without ever having to take a civil service examination. More information can be obtained from the CWEB program. E-mail Dr. Cynthia Bradley-King for more information.

What are the degree requirements?

Students admitted to the CWEB program for study at the undergraduate level are required to satisfy all academic requirements for the degree program to which they are admitted. These requirements include credit hours, grades, and field instruction (internship).

In addition, there are several specific academic requirements:

  • At least one child welfare course
  • A field work assignment (internship) of at least 400 clock hours in a public child welfare agency
  • Course content in cultural diversity
  • Completion of selected Pennsylvania Competency-Based Training modules, usually as part of their field work (internship)

Normal progress toward completion of the degree as defined by the school is expected. While students may enroll on either a full-time or part-time basis, the number of part-time positions is limited and students are encouraged to enroll full-time.

What financial support is available?

Persons admitted to the CWEB program for full-time study will receive full tuition and fees for their senior year at the school in which they are enrolled, a stipend, and a book allowance. Persons enrolled in state or state-related universities will receive tuition at the Pennsylvania resident level only. Part-time students will receive the tuition and fees incurred in their senior year enrollment, a stipend, and a book allowance not to exceed what they would have received had they been enrolled full-time.

What commitment does a student have after graduation?

Persons enrolled in the CWEB program will be required to sign a legally binding contract agreeing to employment in a Pennsylvania public child welfare agency immediately upon graduation. This provision is a strict requirement in compliance with federal regulations and may not be waived for graduate study or delayed for any other purpose. There are 67 county child welfare agencies throughout the state. The student may fulfill the commitment in any of these agencies where vacancies exist. The CWEB staff will assist students in the placement process. The contractual period of employment will be one calendar year for each academic year (or fraction of a year) for which the student receives financial support. This would rarely exceed one calendar year. Persons who do not complete the contractual work commitment will be required to repay in cash the value of all funds paid to them or on their behalf. The work commitment for part-time students will be prorated so that it will not exceed the commitment of full-time students enrolled in the same degree program in the same university.

What commitment do students have to the CWEB program?

The CWEB faculty maintain close contact with CWEB students and graduates. Students are required to provide the details of their course and internship activities each academic term, submit reimbursement requests on a regular and timely basis, and to attend a meeting with CWEB faculty held in their geographic region at least annually. Graduates are required to keep the CWEB program advised of any changes of address or employment during the period of their CWEB work commitment. Both students and graduates are expected to participate in CWEB's annual program evaluation.

What are the employing agency's responsibilities?

County child welfare agencies are eager to employ social work graduates with child welfare preparation. Using their normal employment and personnel practices and procedures, they will recruit and employ CWEB graduates. Once employed, CWEB graduates will be eligible for the normal and usual salaries and benefits, including educational benefits for graduate education through the CWEL program and other opportunities. Suitable employment will be an assignment providing services to Title IV-E eligible children and their families and commensurate with the employee's abilities and training.

Who administers the CWEB Program?

Under contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh administers the CWEB program for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh assists each student, school, and county participating in the program to make all the necessary arrangements prior to, during and following the student's enrollment and employment. Questions, technical assistance, contract monitoring, student employment and commitment obligations, financial administration, curriculum, and related matters are handled by the University of Pittsburgh.

For further information, contact:

Principal Investigator
Helen Cahalane, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2328 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-6386
E-mail: hcupgh@pitt.edu

Baccalaureate Child Welfare Coordinator
Cynthia Bradley-King, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2302 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-2830
E-mail: ckb11@pitt.edu

How can I contact the participating schools?

Listed below are the addresses and phone numbers of the admissions offices of the participating schools. All applicants must apply to the school(s) of their choice by the admission deadline specified by the school(s).

Bloomsburg University
Social Work Program
Department of Sociology, Social Welfare, and Criminal Justice
College of Arts and Sciences
2106 McCormick Center for Human Services
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
(570) 389-4237
Fax: (570) 389-2019

California University of Pennsylvania
Department of Social Work and Gerontology
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419-1394
(724) 938-5910
Fax: (724) 938-5977

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Department
Social Work Program
210 Butterfield
Edinboro, PA 16444
(814) 732-2013
Fax: (814) 732-1108

Kutztown University
Social Work Program
Old Main
Room 27
Kutztown, PA 19530
(610) 683-4235
Fax: (610) 683-4383

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Social Work Program
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, and Social Work
Thomas Annex
Lock Haven, PA 17745
(570) 893-2210
Fax: (570) 893-2830

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Social Work Program
Social Work, Anthropology, Sociology Department
Pinecrest Manor
Mansfield, PA 16933
(570) 662-4661
Fax: (570) 662-4113

Marywood University
School of Social Work
2300 Adams Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509-1598
(570) 348-6282, ext. 2445
1-866-279-9663
Fax: (570) 961-4742

Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Social Work Department
Chester House
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551-0302
(717) 872-3739
Fax: (717) 872-3959

Shippensburg University
Department of Social Work
College of Education and Human Services
Horton Hall
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717) 477-1717
Fax: (717) 477-4051

Slippery Rock University
Social Work Program
Sociology/Anthropology/Social Work
004 Spotts World Culture Building
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
(724) 738-2084
Fax: (724) 738-4822

Temple University
School of Social Administration
Ritter Annex (004-00)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-8621
Fax: (215) 204-9606

University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2103 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-6346
Fax: (412) 624-6323

West Chester University
Department of Social Work
114 Rosedale Avenue
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-2527
Fax: (610) 436-2135

Widener University
Center for Social Work Education
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013-5792
(610) 499-1153
Fax: (610) 499-4617

Do I have to claim my stipend payments on my taxes?

No taxes are withheld from stipend payments nor does the University issue W2’s for these payments.
However, if a student is a non-immigrant, they will receive a 1042S tax document. If their country has a tax treaty, they will not have any federal income tax withheld. If they do not have a tax treaty, they will have federal income tax withheld at a flat 14%.
All students receiving a stipend do need to review Publication 970 on the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf to determine whether any or all of the stipend payment is taxable depending on how the payments were used. The student should consult with a tax professional if they have any further questions.