Program Description
The Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB) program is a cooperative effort among the United States Administration for Children and Families, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and twenty-two undergraduate social work degree programs in Pennsylvania accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Its goal is to strengthen public child welfare services in Pennsylvania by providing educational opportunities for undergraduate social work majors preparing for employment in one of Pennsylvania's 67 public child welfare agencies. Qualified persons who are full time social work majors in their senior year at any of the approved schools may receive an educational fellowship and tuition support in return for a contractual obligation to accept employment in a Pennsylvania public child welfare agency immediately following their studies. The employment commitment is not waived or postponed for graduate study.
Who is qualified to apply?
Any official undergraduate social work major in any of the 22 approved schools may apply provided the applicant is at least a junior; has a sincere interest in child welfare studies; has a satisfactory academic grade point average; and has a recommendation from the faculty of the social work program in which the applicant is enrolled. Persons currently in default of federal educational loans are ineligible. Participants must have satisfied general education requirements and be in their senior year of social work studies to receive CWEB funding. Funding may not be used for unfulfilled general education requirements.
Partnering Schools of Social Work
- Alvernia University
- Cedar Crest College
- Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg
- Commonwealth University – Lock Haven
- Commonwealth University - Mansfield
- Elizabethtown College
- East Stroudsburg University
- Juniata College
- Kutztown University
- Lancaster Bible College
- Marywood University
- Messiah University
- Millersville University
- Misericordia University
- Penn West University – California
- Penn West University – Edinboro
- Shippensburg University
- Slippery Rock University
- Temple University
- University of Pittsburgh
- West Chester University
- Widener University
Applications to CWEB
All applicants must complete the Online CWEB Application. The use of GenAI to answer application questions is prohibited. The application deadline for spring term admission is November 15th each academic year. The deadline for fall term admission is April 30th. The fall 2025 application cycle for the CWEB program is closed.
Additionally, the following documents are required to complete an application to CWEB:
- Current Resume
- Faculty Recommendation
- Academic Transcripts
- Current Drivers License
- Personal Statement (Questions on Application website)