Nebraska's Title IV-E Stipend Program provides professional education and monetary support to undergraduate Social Work students attending an accredited college or university within the State of Nebraska, who intend to pursue or continue a career in the field of public child welfare.
The goals of the Title IV-E Stipend Program:
- To increase the number of Children and Family Services Specialists in Nebraska with BSW
- To prioritize the enrollment of current State and Tribal Social Services staff
- To prioritize the enrollment of students who reflect the diversity of Nebraska's child welfare population
- To provide specific program support through the provision of monetary support to students
- To provide specific program support through a specialized competency-based child welfare curriculum
With federal Title IV-E funding, the State of Nebraska provides stipends for students in the full-time BSW program at an accredited college or university within the State of Nebraska. Stipends will be available for those students entering their 3rd year and 4th year of the social work degree program. These students could potentially intern in Child Protective Services during their 4th year. Stipend recipients will be eligible to work in a federal Title IV-E position upon graduation.
If you are a BSW candidate with a strong interest in pursuing a career in public child welfare, then the State of Nebraska provides an opportunity to subsidize your education. The State of Nebraska offers a 1-2 year stipend program that offers to pay 15-16 credit hours per semester. Students who receive this assistance “payback" the stipend with a month of employment at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for every month of tuition paid.
The State of Nebraska offers a stipend program to a BSW stipend candidate for their last 48 credit hours of the program. You must complete your educational requirements within the required time stipulated by the accredited college or University for the BSW program.
The State of Nebraska attempts to recruit students who reflect the needs and ethnic makeup of the public child welfare client base. A preference is given to candidates who are current public social services and public child welfare employees.
Please complete, print, and email your application (including affirmations and essay responses) and 3 reference letters to dhhs.myhr@nebraska.gov. Applications are accepted annually for the following school year. Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on March 15.
Stipend students must successfully complete the Social Work Program courses at an accredited college or university within the State of Nebraska.
BSW Stipend Recipients must complete one field practicum of 400 hours. This applicant can apply to complete a practicum at a local Department of Health and Human Services through Children and Family Services Specialist focusing on abuse and neglect case management, however this is not a requirement that it be done at Health and Human Services.
Once the student has graduated from their BSW program they are eligible to begin employment with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in a Title IV-E position such as Child and Family Services Specialist or Child and Family Services Supervisor for a month for every one month of tuition paid.
This employment will include training through the Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with Center for Children and Families and the Law.
*Tuition at an accredited college or university within the State of Nebraska will be paid at no more than $4,000.00 per semester. Fees and room/board are not included.
*If a student decides to not seek employment with the Department of Health and Human Services, repayment may be sought for the funds provided to the student.