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LA DCFS and UCLA Workforce Excellence Program

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School of Social Work

LA DCFS and UCLA Workforce Excellence Program

The LA DCFS and UCLA Workforce Excellence Program is a specialized training program in public child welfare available in the MSW program. The program is a collaborative endeavor between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the graduate programs of social work at ºÚÁÏÍø, UCLA, USC, CSULA, CSUN and CSUDH.

The overall goal of this program is to increase the professional skills and knowledge of Los Angeles County public child welfare workers. At ºÚÁÏÍø our program is designed to prepare social work student interns in the most innovative and current programs available to support effective careers with the Department of Children and Family Services.

The stipend program is available to MSW students in their advanced (second) year of field education.  Students will complete their field education in a designated DCFS regional office.  Students will participate in mandatory LA County hosted trainings and specialized University hosted trainings which may include seminars, presentations and symposiums.  Participants will be awarded a stipend of $18,500 to support their tuition and associated academic expenses, distributed over the course of the academic year of program participation.  Student participants are expected to accept full time employment with LA County’s DCFS upon graduation from the MSW program for a minimum of a 1 year commitment. 

DCFS and current (or previous) CalSWEC students are not eligible. Interested candidates must complete an application and interview process.

Requirements for LA DCFS and UCLA Workforce Excellence Program

Students accepted into the program must:

• Sign a contract to secure full-time employment with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for one year post graduation.

• Have a valid driver's license, current automobile insurance, and secure the use of a car as required for fieldwork

• Complete pre-screening for county employment which includes Livescan, psychological assessment, physical examination.

• Successfully complete foundation year field education.

• Complete designated specialized training.

• Successfully complete the child welfare elective (SW 643).

• Successfully complete the Master’s Thesis/Project with focus on child welfare population, issue, area or service delivery system.

• Maintain a "B" (3.0) average

• Complete and graduate from the MSW Program in the Child and Family Well-being specialization within the required timelines established for each program model.

Students are responsible for payback of the stipend if they are unable to successfully complete any of the requirements of the program.