The Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program (CWPEP) is a title IV-E partnership between the University of Oklahoma, The Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.
The purpose of this partnership is to enhance and support Oklahoma's public child welfare workforce. It affords interested students financial support by covering books, fees, and in-state tuition in return for a specified employment obligation in a Child Welfare position with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) or a Tribe with which DHS has a Tribal/State Agreement. This commitment is 12 (BSW) or 15 (MSW) months for each academic year of financial support.
Additional Requirements for DHS Employees Only, please click here (DOCX).
Who It's For: Bachelor of Social Work Students
Focus: Entry-level child welfare practice
What it Provides: Funded educational support, specialized child welfare field placements and professional preparation and mentorship
Outcome: Graduate career-ready and enter the child welfare workforce
Commitment: 1-year welfare employment for each year of funding
Why CW Launch: Reduced education costs, direct pathway into child welfare careers and strong foundation for advanced training (including CW Lead)
Who It's For: Master of Social Work Students
Focus: Advanced practice, supervision, and leadership
What it Provides: Funded MSW education, advanced field placement aligned with leadership roles, leadership roles, leadership development and professional mentorship
Outcome: Strengthen leadership impact while continuing employment
Commitment: Continued service in an approved state or Tribal child welfare role
Why CW Launch: Advance your career without leaving the workforce, build leadership skills and prepare for higher-level roles
Academic Year Fall 2027 dates coming soon.
For additional information regarding the application process, contact:
* For Tribal MSW Applicants: Contact misty.stanberry@ou.edu
* For DHS Employee Applicants: Contact misty.stanberry@ou.edu
Email: julie.merritt@ou.edu
