The Title IV-E Training Grant for Public Child Welfare

What is it?
The Title IV-E Training Grant for Public Child Welfare is an extraordinary educational grant that pays for tuition, fees, books and mileage for persons interested in a career in public child welfare or for current Division of Family and Children Services staff who wish to upgrade their professional skills and training.

Who sponsors the grant?
The Title IV-E Training Grant is a partnership between eight Georgia Schools of Social Work and the Division of Family and Children Services. The eight Schools of Social Work include Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Dalton State College, Georgia State University, Savannah State University, Thomas University, University of Georgia, and Valdosta State University.

What are the requirements for the grant?
The grant is open to all current DFCS employees and those interested in a career in child welfare. Potential students should be interested in obtaining a Bachelors of Social Work and/or a Masters of Social Work degree. Once in the program, students will participate in courses in child welfare practice and complete a field placement in a DFCS office. The student repays grant funds by working for DFCS for a specified period of time (typically one year of employment for every academic year of IV-E funding).

How do I apply for the grant?
You must first be accepted as a social work major at Thomas University in order to be eligible for consideration for the IV-E training grant. Once accepted as a social work major, you must then fill out an application for the IV-E program.

Can I work and attend school at the same time?
Yes! If you are a DFCS employee, the Staff Enrichment and Educational Development Program or S.E.E.D. Program allows DFCS staff to attend class part time during normal working hours. If you have other employment, many of the programs allow students to attend part time during non-traditional hours.

Why should I do this?
The IV-E grant allows you the opportunity to increase your professional skills, enhance longevity and job satisfaction, and improve opportunities for salary increases and job advancement.

For information regarding Thomas University and the IV-E Grant, contact Bill Milford at bmilford@thomasu.edu. For information regarding the IV-E Grant in general, please contact Angie Saturday at ansaturday@dhr.state.ga.us.