Program Overview

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) is looking to promote a well-educated, trained workforce to work with children and families served by the state's child welfare system.

DSS is accepting applications from current DSS professionals to be admitted to our program, which provides financial tuition assistance to select DSS employees seeking a Master's in Social Work at the University of South Carolina or Winthrop University who will commit to continue working with the children and families served by SCDSS in Child Welfare Services for a minimum of two years after graduation.

Program Benefits

Employees admitted to the program will receive the following benefits in exchange committing to employment with DSS for two years post-graduation.

• Full tuition each semester
• Reimbursement for required books and course materials (does not include notebooks, folders, paper, etc.)
• Eligible for salary increase upon graduation, according to the published Child Welfare Salary Plan Schedule

Program of Study Options

University of South Carolina Part Time Options

Advanced Standing Program (42 credit hours) – Program starts every Summer Semester

Regular Program (60 credit hours) – Program starts every Fall Semester

For more information, visit the University of South Carolina, College of Social Work website or contact University of South Carolina – Rhonda DiNovo, LMSW, MSW, ADC
MSW Program Director, at dinovo@mailbox.sc.edu

Winthrop University Part Time Options

Advanced Standing (39 credit hours) – Program starts every semester

Regular Program (60 credit hours) – Program starts every semester

For more information, visit the Winthrop University, Department of Social Work (Online Program) website or contact Dr. Kori Bloomquist - bloomquistk@winthrop.edu

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the DSS Child Welfare Employee MSW Scholars Tuition Assistance Program, students must:

• Be a current employee of DSS CWS for at least 1 year (Employees are admitted according to the Priority Admission Criteria below)
• Currently hold a bachelor’s degree
• Obtain admission into the Graduate School and/or Master of Social Work program at:
• University of South Carolina (requires admission to both), or
• Winthrop University (only requires admission to the Graduate School)

• Have no pending or previous disciplinary action within the last 12 months of employment at DSS

Program Requirements and Employee Commitment

To maintain good standing, employee program participants must:

• Apply and be accepted into the Child Welfare Scholars Program with DSS

• Maintain part-time enrollment in an MSW Program at one of the participating State of South Carolina universities' social work programs
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher in all coursework
• Satisfactorily complete a DSS Child Welfare internship
• Maintain employment with DSS Child Welfare during the program and for at least two years post-graduation

Learn more about the shared commitment and partnership between (you) the student, the university, and DSS by contacting Michael Robbins.

Application Requirements

Note: All applicants must be admitted to the University Graduate School and USC students must additionally be admitted to the School of Social Work.

To apply to the Child Welfare Scholars Tuition Assistance Program, employees must complete the following steps:

• Gather
1. Admission documents to the University Graduate School
2. Admission documents to the College of Social Work (USC students only)
3. Prepare a Professional Statement that Includes how achieving a degree In social work will help you:
• Achieve your personal and professional goals
• Aide in your career in child welfare
• Facilitate actualizing GPS practice when working with children and families.

• Apply
1. Click this LINK to apply.
2. Have your supervisor complete your letter of reference by clicking this LINK.
3. Submit university admissions document to Michael.Robbins@dss.sc.gov

Priority Admission Criteria

1. Position
   1. CWS Team Leaders and Team Coordinators
   2. CWS Case Managers
   3. Other CWS Employees
2. Personal Statement Score
3. Seniority
4. After all other considerations if there are still ties for admission, the order in which staff applied (first come, first served) will be a tie breaker for admission.

For more information, contact:

Michael Robbins
Workforce Developer, Human Resources
Michael.Robbins@dss.sc.gov
(803) 898-7371
Email: Internships@dss.sc.gov

Child Welfare Employee MSW Scholars Tuition Assistance Program Marketing Materials

MSW Program Pamphlet