MCWEP MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM Masters Child Welfare Education Program (MCWEP) ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Masters Child Welfare Education Program (MCWEP) is a partnership among the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and a consortium of four New Jersey MSW programs—Kean University, Monmouth University, Rutgers University, and Stockton University - the lead institution. Its purpose is to offer current Division of Child Protection and Permanency supervisors the opportunity to strengthen their skills in clinical social work practice and supervision, obtain an advanced credential in social work (MSW), and ultimately to enhance the capacity of the Division to deliver the highest quality services to the vulnerable children and families that it serves. DCF will provide tuition and fees for applicants accepted into MCWEP.

MCWEP Program Structure: The program consists of three components: 1. Enrollment in one of four New Jersey part-time MSW programs* o Traditional MSW Program, for individuals with a bachelor’s degree with a major other than social work • Requires 60 credits of coursework, including 900-1125 hours of supervised field experience in an approved agency or institution o Advanced Standing MSW Program, for selected individuals who have completed a degree with a major in social work • Requires 30-39 credits of coursework, including 500-885 hours of supervised field experience in an approved agency or institution 2. Participation in the MCWEP Learning Community o Consisting of online discussions and quarterly face-to-face seminars involving all enrolled MCWEP students 3. Enrollment in MCWEP Electives o Leadership and Supervision in Child Welfare (to develop leadership skills and skills in providing clinical supervision to child welfare workers, including helping workers to develop the skills essential to planning and running successful family team meetings and working effectively with community resources) o Trauma-informed Child Welfare Practice (to develop knowledge and skills needed for working effectively with children and families that have experienced trauma, as well as with child welfare workers exposed to secondary trauma) MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM

• Casework Supervisors and Supervisors are eligible to apply for the program.

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

• Applicants must agree to sign a legally binding agreement to continue their employment at DCF for one year for each year of support received.

• Applicants must meet admission requirements of the MSW program they choose to attend.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Applicants must first apply through the Division of Child Protection and Permanency by completing the DCF “Application for Financial Support and Masters Child Welfare Traineeship”

• If selected by DCP&P, applicants then apply to the various MSW program(s).

stockton.edu/mcwep MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Masters of Child Welfare Education Program (MCWEP) PARTICIPATINGMasters MSW Child WelfarePROGRAMS Education Program (MCWEP) PARTICIPATING MSW PROGRAMS

KEAN UNIVERSITY MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY STOCKTON UNIVERSITY

PROGRAM FOCUS The MSW Program prepares The central mission of the MSW The MSW Program prepares The MSW Program prepares graduates for direct social Program is to prepare its graduates skilled clinical social workers to graduates for advanced-level work practice with individuals, for professional practice with function in both public and private social work practice with families, groups, organizations, a commitment to improving sectors of social welfare; and also diverse individuals, families, and and communities. The Program the quality of life of vulnerable prepares social work leaders for communities. The Program aims aims to produce graduates with individuals, families, groups, and administrative leadership roles in the to produce graduates who have a strong problem solving capacities, communities on the local, national, state’s social welfare departments lifetime commitment to upholding commitment to diversity and social and international levels. The primary and agencies, and at all levels human rights, respecting human justice. mission of the MSW Program at of government, as well as in the diversity, and working towards social Monmouth University is to prepare voluntary sector. justice. graduates for advanced social work practice.

CONCENTRATIONS In the Direct Practice concentration, The Clinical Practice with Families In the Clinical Social Work In the Advanced Social Work AVAILABLE TO MCWEP and Children (CPFC) concentration concentration, students get in-depth, Practice with Diverse Individuals, PARTICIPANTS students obtain clinical, research, and policy knowledge, skills, teaches students how to directly comprehensive skills in engagement, Families and Communities and values to engage, assess, empower families at risk. Through assessment, intervention, and concentration, students develop intervene, and evaluate individuals, a selection of strengths based evaluation to enhance the well-being familiarity with theories, families, groups, organizations, and approaches, the concentration of individuals, families, and groups. perspectives, and approaches communities. Students have an works to address family and child It is important to recognize that we that deepen their understanding of opportunity to explore their interest focused concerns across a level of broadly define clinical social work direct/clinical practice methods and in children in families throughout need spectrum from poverty and to encompass more than traditional, strengthen their ability to engage, core course projects. homelessness to communication office-based, and private practice assess, and intervene effectively and interpersonal counseling. psychotherapy. At Rutgers, clinical with diverse individuals, families, Students will be prepared to social work is about helping social and communities. work with a variety of different work clients change behaviors or populations, leaving with practice resolve emotional problems that are “tools” for their pocket. a function of the interface between person and environment. MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

KEAN UNIVERSITY MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY STOCKTON UNIVERSITY

ADMISSION • Completed application, including • Completed application, including • Completed application, including • Completed application, including REQUIREMENTS Personal Statement (see narrative in response to questions Personal Statement (see application for brief essays (see application for application for questions) outlined on Autobiographical questions) questions) • Baccalaureate degree from Statement Form • Baccalaureate degree from accredited • Baccalaureate degree from accredited institution • Baccalaureate degree from institution accredited institution • Official transcripts accredited institution • Official transcripts • Official transcripts • Broad liberal arts academic • Official transcripts • Broad liberal arts academic background • 24 credits in the liberal arts background • Strong liberal arts background • Minimum GPA is 3.0. Applicants • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (applicants • Minimum GPA is 3.0. Applicants with a minimum of one 3-credit who do not have this minimum GPA whose GPA is lower may be who do not have this minimum course in each of 4 areas should address this in their Personal considered if the application is GPA should address this in their (English, math, biology, and Statement. otherwise very strong) Personal Statement. psychology) • An introductory undergraduate course • 3 letters of recommendation • 3 current professional letters of • Minimum overall GPA of 2.75, in statistics that covers descriptive and from persons familiar with the recommendation and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in basic inferential statistical procedures applicant’s work • Résumé undergraduate major with a grade of C or better (prerequisite • Résumé (highly recommended) • Candidates for Advanced Standing • 3 completed Monmouth for the advanced part of the program • Facility in a second language is must have a baccalaureate degree University Department of Social but NOT a requirement for admission) considered a strength in social work from a program Work recommendation forms • 3 current professional letters of • Candidates for Advanced accredited by the Council on (from professional or academic recommendation Standing must have a Social Work Education references) • Résumé (highly recommended) baccalaureate degree in social • Candidates for Advanced • Candidates for Advanced Standing work from a program accredited Standing must have a BSW must have a baccalaureate degree in by the Council on Social Work degree from an accredited social work from a program accredited Education program obtained within 6 years by the Council on Social Work of date of application Education

FOR FURTHER Website Website Website Website INFORMATION grad.kean.edu/msw monmouth.edu/socialwork socialwork.rutgers.edu/Academics/MSW.aspx stockton.edu/msw Address Address Address Address Department of Social Work, Social Work Department School of Social Work Social Work Program, School of Social Hutchinson Hall, 1000 Morris Avenue Norwood and Cedar Avenue 536 George St. and Behavioral Sciences Union, NJ 07083 West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1898 New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1167 101 Vera King Farris Drive Phone: 908-737-4040 Phone 732.571.3543 Phone 732.932.7253 Galloway, NJ 08205-9441 Fax: 908-737-4066 Fax 732.263.5217 Fax 732.932.8915 Phone 609.652.4512 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Fax 609.748.5559 E-mail [email protected] MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact the Lead Institution Staff:

Diane S. Falk, Co-Principal Investigator [email protected] Dawn Konrady, Director & Co-Principal Investigator [email protected] Joseph Everett, Program Coordinator [email protected] John Searight, Administrator [email protected] Maya A. Lewis, MCWEP Learning Community Coordinator [email protected] Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen, MCWEP Learning Community Coordinator [email protected]

OR DCF/DCP&P LIAISON John Ramos, DCP&P Executive Assistant [email protected] OR stockton.edu/mcwep MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

MCWEP Participating Academic Institutions

Lead Organization Stockton University Child Welfare Education Institute

MSW Programs: Kean University Monmouth University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Stockton University

Partnering Organizations: State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers MCWEP MASTERS CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION PROGRAM

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