Information on the Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Program In the State of

The Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Program (IV-E Program) is an educational program that pays for tuition, fees, books and mileage for persons interested in a career in public child welfare in Georgia or for current Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) staff who wish to upgrade their professional skills and training.

Who sponsors the IV-E Program? The Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Program is a partnership between ten Georgia Schools of Social Work and the Georgia Department of Human Services/Division of Family and Children Services (DHS/DFCS). The ten Schools of Social Work are Albany State University, Clark University, , Fort Valley State University , Kennesaw State University, Savannah State University, Thomas University, , and Valdosta State University.

What are the requirements for participating in the IV-E Program? The IV-E Program is open to all current DFCS employees and those interested in a career in child welfare. Potential students should be interested in obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) and/or a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree. Once in the Program, students will participate in courses in child welfare practice and complete a field placement in a Georgia DFCS office. The student repays the Program funds by working for Georgia DFCS in a social services position for a specified period (one calendar year (12 months) of employment for every academic year (usually 9 months) IV-E funding was received.

Which schools offer BSW and/or MSW degrees? BSW programs are offered at Albany State University, Dalton State College, Fort Valley State University, Georgia State University, Savannah State University, Thomas University, and the University of Georgia. MSW programs are offered at , Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Savannah State University, University of Georgia, and Valdosta State University.

Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Program Application Process

The application process is as follows:

1. Apply to one of the ten schools of social work for either a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) or Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree. Links to the schools may be found on the IV-E website at https://www.gadfcs.org/grant/cwg.jsp.

2. The link for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required by most M.S.W. programs is http://www.ets.org

3. If you are not familiar with the position of Social Services Protect and Placement Specialist (formerly Social Services Case Manager) or if you are not a Georgia DFCS social services employee (Protect and Placement Specialist and above), please click on link or paste it in your browser: http://www.dhrjobs.com/DFCS/Social%20Services%20Main%20page_March%202010.asp

• The page is titled “DFCS Social Services.” You will need to watch the video. RealPlayer is required to watch the video. If you do not have RealPlayer click on “Download Now.” Once you have download RealPlayer, click on “Video.”

• A box will pop up asking, “Do you want to allow this website to open a program on your computer?” Click “Allow.”

• Another box will open asking for User Name-dhrjobs and Password-socialcm.

Rev. 7-5-11 1 of 3 • After watching the video, go back to “DFCS Social Services” and click on “Georgia Child Welfare.”

• Read the “Overview of Social Services Child Welfare Position.” Complete the self- assessment that begins on page 14. Remember your score for the IV-E interview.

• Click on: http://www.dhrjobs.com/DFCS/DFCS_SSPPS_070609.asp for a description of the Social Services Protect and Placement Specialist position (the position you are required to take once you complete your degree) and for current salary information.

• Return to the IV-E website: https://www.gadfcs.org/grant/cwg.jsp and read the Student Agreement. IV-E students are required to sign this legal document and adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the document. DFCS employees should also read the Staff Enrichment and Development (S.E.E.D.) application.

• If after being accepted into a school of social work, watching the video, reading the overview and taking the assessment, you are still interested in a career with DFCS, then proceed with the IV-E Program application. The IV-E application is completed online at https://www.gadfcs.org/grant/cwg.jsp Make sure to designate which schools of social work you want to receive your IV-E application.

4. Once you have been accepted into a school of social work, and applied for the IV-E Program, the school will schedule an interview with you for the IV-E Program. We typically have more applicants for the IV-E Program than the schools have slots. We interview students to determine who will be accepted into the IV-E Program. After the interview process, the school of social work will notify the student to let them know whether they have been accepted into the IV-E Program.

• Note: It is possible to be accepted into a school of social work but not in the IV-E Program. If that is the case, then the student is required to pay their own tuition.

• Note: If you are applying for a B.S.W degree, you will not be eligible to participate in the Title IV-E Program until you are accepted into a school of social work (usually in your junior or senior year). If you have to take pre-requisite classes before you can be accepted into a school of social work, then you are responsible for paying for those classes.

• Note: If you are a current employee of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), in addition to the application process outlined above, you will need to bring to the IV-E Program interview a completed Staff Enrichment and Educational Development (S.E.E.D.) application or a letter of support signed by your immediate supervisor and approval authority. The S.E.E.D. application and the list of approval authorities (based on you position) may be found at the IV-E web site at https://www.gadfcs.org/grant/cwg.jsp. Those DFCS employees, who fail to bring the required documents to the interview, will not be considered for the IV-E Program.

• Note: If you are a non-DFCS employee, you are required to complete and bring the following documents with you to the interview: (1) Consent for Release of Information, (2) Criminal History Addendum, (3) Work Obligation Information, and (4) Title IV-E Student Agreement. These documents may be accessed via the Title IV-E website at https://www.gadfcs.org/grant/cwg.jsp .

Rev. 7-5-11 2 of 3 • Note: Please be aware that there is a work obligation once you complete your social work degree. For every academic year (9 months) you receive funds through the IV- E Program, you are required to work a calendar year (12 months) for the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in a position in social services as a Social Services Protect and Placement Specialist or higher. Failure to complete the work obligation will result in action being taken to recoup funds expended for the student’s education. This includes but is not limited to collection/civil proceedings as deemed necessary. A letter will also be sent to the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists notifying them of your failure to fulfill your required obligation.

Contact Information

For information regarding the Title IV-E Program at: Albany State University contact: Dr. Marilyn Spearman (229) 430-4694 Savannah State University contact: Dr. Roenia DeLoach (912) 356-2010 Thomas University contact: Ms. Kellie O’Dare, MSW (229) 226-1621, ext. 119 University of Georgia contact: Dr. Alberta Ellett (706) 542-5409 Valdosta State University contact: Ms. Carol Smith, MSW (229) 293-6359

Please contact Angie Saturday, MS, LMSW, IV-E Project Administrator at (229) 878-8788 or via email at [email protected] for information about the schools listed above.

For information regarding the Title IV-E Program at: Clark Atlanta University contact: Dr. Roslyn Harper Arnold (404) 880-6732 Dalton State College contact: Dr. Spencer Zeiger (706) 272-2682 Fort Valley State University contact: Ms. Lachyrll Taylor, MSW (478) 825-6984 Georgia State University contact: Ms. Mary McLaughlin, LCSW (404) 413-1071 Kennesaw State University contact: Ms. Takeisha Wilson, LMSW (770) 499-3669

Please contact L. Denise Edwards, MSW, IV-E Project Administrator at (404) 550-6822 or via email at [email protected] for information about the schools listed above.

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