2) What is the Title IV-E program at Texas State?

3) What if I am already employed by the agency?

4) What are the eligibility requirements

Students must be in good academic standing to apply for the stipend and during the entire stipend tenure.

For current DFPS employees

Employees must meet all Texas State and School of Social Work admission requirements.

For both:

To be eligible for to Title IV-E sequence, the applicant must complete the following courses:

BSW students must take SOWK 4315 – Child Welfare and either SOWK 3312 – Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency or SOWK 4310 Social Services to Minorities

MSW students must take either SOWK 5315 – Social Work Intervention in Child Abuse and Neglect or SOWK 5360 – Directed Study in Social Work

Both BSW and MSW students must complete a CPS internship.

Being bilingual is preferred. BSW students are encouraged to study in the Texas State Spanish Language Institute. All applicants must demonstrate an appreciation for cultural diversity.

5) How do I apply to the IV-E stipend?

For pre-service BSW and MSW students:

The student must submit the following to the Field Director:

• Application for field practicum
• A personal resume reflecting education, work, and volunteer experience
• A two to three page double-spaced essay detailing applicant’s interest in and commitment to public child welfare work
• An official transcript

The application materials must be submitted to the Field Office by the posted deadline each semester. DFPS staff will interview all applicants and then submit a recommendation to the Field Office.

Ultimately, the agency chooses the student and the contract is between the student and the agency, not the university.

For current DFPS employees:

The employee must contact his/her supervisor and go through the agency review team. Employees must meet all Texas State admission criteria and be approved by the agency. Agency requirements are subject to workforce needs of the region and are determined on an annual basis.

6) What is the selection process?

In accordance with both federal and state guidelines, each CPS region will determine specific program details (how stipend recipients are selected, trained, and placed). Each region will make the final determination in the selection of its own stipend recipients. The Department of Family and Protective Services makes the final selection.

Pre-service students should see the Title IV-E grant specialist for current information.

Current DFPS employees should contact their supervisors.

7) Will I be expected to submit to a criminal background check?

8) How many stipends are available?

9) How much is the stipend? How is it dispersed?

The student will receive 1/3 of the total stipend due at the beginning of the semester and the remaining 2/3 will be dispersed at the end.

For current DFPS employees, tuition and fees are paid and they will receive an annual book stipend. The book stipend amount varies by contract year.

It should be noted that the amounts mentioned here are for this year’s contract and are subject to change with each new contract.

10) When can I expect my stipend check?

11) What will be expected of me in my internship?

• Assessments
• Testifying in court
• Case management
• Referrals to services
• Foster care and adoption management
• Community organization
• Advocacy
• Travel

Interns will be held to the same professionalism and accountability standards as employees.

12) Will I have to travel?

13) After completing my internship, what else must I do in exchange for my stipend?

14) What if I cannot or do not complete my contract work requirement?