The MSW program at Kennesaw State University offers a clinical specialization in Services to Children and Their Families. This specialization will prepare professional social workers to enter all fields focusing on child treatment and protective services including both public and private nonprofit agencies. Advanced coursework in the areas of assessment, treatment, and protective services will be taught by experienced clinicians drawn from our faculty as well as the service arena.

Public Child Welfare Partnership
Kennesaw State University is a member of the Inter-University Consortium on Child Welfare, a Title IV-E training program committed to bringing training opportunities to social workers, managers, support/clerical staff and administrators from the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Our primary service area includes all of the county DFCS offices in 18 Northwest Georgia counties.

Child Welfare Scholars
The Kennesaw State University Child Welfare Scholar Program provides a stipend to promising MSW Social Work students who are committed to practicing social work in the field of child welfare. These stipends are funded through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The purpose of this program is to recruit and retain qualified staff in child welfare practice with specialization in the areas of foster care and adoptions.
Students receiving stipends must agree to accept employment in Family and Children Services within the State of Georgia for a time period that corresponds with the stipend received. Stipends are available for both potential and current DFCS employees. The MSW stipend award is primarily intended to develop advanced skills among experienced Georgia DFCS employees.

Eligibility for Child Welfare Stipend

• Gain admittance into the MSW program at Kennesaw State University and remain in good academic standing.
• Demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in child welfare or be a full-time employee with Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
• Meet the educational requirements of the Kennesaw State University Scholar Program.
• Confirm a field placement in an approved child welfare setting.
• Commit to work for the Georgia’s DFCS for a designated period of time after graduation to complete the requirements of the scholar program.
• Understand fully that the stipend must be repaid if program commitments are not met.