2026-2027 Title IV-E Child Welfare Program Agreement - Southwest Minnesota State University

Minnesota B.S.W. Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program

Academic Year 2026-2027

The signatory below (the “Recipient”) has been named as a B.S.W. Child Welfare Student Stipend Recipient at Southwest Minnesota State University (the “University”) and, as such, will receive an education stipend for the academic year 2026-2027, contingent upon the continuation of federal Title IV-E funds and contract approval by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. 

Section A:  Academic Requirements

Recipient agrees to the following:

1. Recipients shall have their senior field placement in a county, tribal or state child welfare unit.  

2. Recipients shall register for, and complete, classes in the social work program at University, including the course(s) designated for Child Welfare students, or get permission to change from the Director of Professional Education at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota (CASCW).

3. Recipients shall maintain good academic standing.  If Recipient’s grade point average is below the University’s definition of good academic standing, the University may deny additional funding and may require repayment of received stipends.

4. Recipients shall attend all meetings and Title IV-E events offered by University, and attend assigned Minnesota DHS Child Welfare Training System’s Foundation Training.

5. All Recipients shall adhere to all applicable University student handbooks, policies, and professional society standards including without limitation the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice as defined by the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Failure to meet required standards may be cause for dismissal from the Title IV-E stipend program and will require repayment of the stipend.

6. Recipient authorizes University to disclose and receive information as necessary for participation in the program to an authorized representative of another educational institution or an agency related to child welfare. Specifically, Recipient authorizes the Social Work Department of University to provide public and otherwise private information about themselves to the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), School of Social Work, and University of Minnesota for purposes such as identification, compliance, and collection relating to the grant and the grant program. This information may include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:  name; address; social security number, date of birth, electronic (e-mail) address; dates of enrollment; enrollment status (part-time, full-time, not enrolled); field placement; major and minor; adviser; academic awards and honors; graduation date and degree; job search information (what agencies, where, when, results); and employment after graduation.  Recipient understands that the CASCW may share information about Recipient with other parties as needed to fulfill program requirements, to ensure Recipient’s compliance with the terms of this agreement, or to pursue collection if Recipient fails to comply with grant requirements. Agreement to these terms is required to receive the grant.

Recipient shall provide the CASCW with updated contact information including email, address and work place after graduation at least until their employment obligations outlined in Section B.2 or stipend repayment obligations outlined in Section C are fulfilled.
 

Section B:  Stipend Requirements

Recipient acknowledges that the stipend is funded by the federal government to University, and if federal support of Title IV-E is terminated for any reason, University is not obligated to make further payments to Recipient.  The stipend is contingent on the continuance of federal funding to the University for the Title IV-E program. By accepting the stipend, Recipient agrees to the following:

1. Recipients shall use the stipend to support attainment of their BSW degree.

2. Recipient agrees to repay the stipend received unless they fulfill the employment requirements noted below.  Recipient will be released from all obligation to repay the stipend once they have been employed in a qualifying position for the required duration as outlined in Section B.2.c, or have submitted sufficient documentation demonstrating 3 months of post-graduation employment search efforts consistent with the requirements of the CASCW. Upon graduation from the University (i.e., as of the date of graduation as listed on Recipient’s transcript), Recipient agrees to seek and accept employment consistent with the following:

1. For the first three months following exit from the University, Recipient will search for Tier 1 positions within at least 50 miles of their residence.  “Tier 1 positions” are defined as: child welfare employment in a public (county, state) or tribal agency working with or on behalf of Title IV-E eligible children. Usually this means a child welfare unit in foster care, adoptions, child protection or a combination of those services. Preferably located in the state of Minnesota.

2. If, after 3 months of searching for a Tier 1 position, Recipient has not received an offer of a Tier 1 position within 50 miles of their residence, Fellow must submit documentation detailing their employment search efforts to CASCW’s Director of Professional Education and schedule a consultation with the Director.  Upon approval from CASCW, Recipient will be released from their employment obligation.

3. The duration of employment shall be equal to or exceed the length of time Recipient received a stipend.  For purposes of this requirement, a stipend for one semester correlates to 4.5 months of employment.   For sake of clarity, if Recipient received a stipend for two semesters, Recipient would need to be employed in a qualifying position for 9 months. Any absence due to FMLA leave, other medical leave, or similar protected leave shall not count toward the total duration of employment or service that is required for repayment. Employment payback will be deferred during such periods.

4. Recipients shall maintain records of their employment search.  The CASCW may request that Recipient completes specific forms detailing their employment search efforts and may impose specific requirements regarding the rigor of the employment search.

5. While searching for employment, Recipients shall register with the Minnesota Merit System and other state registration systems as appropriate or as requested by the CASCW.

6. Recipients who enroll in a MSW after graduation shall inform the CASCW staff of such enrollment and will have employment search and stipend repayment obligations deferred until graduation from the MSW program. Upon exit of the MSW program, Recipient will have employment search and stipend repayment obligations to the BSW program first and subsequently to the MSW program. Recipients are required and are to assume responsibility for reporting their IV-E status, employment search activities, and/or repayment status to both institutions.

Section C:  Repayment of Stipend

1. Recipient will be obligated to repay the stipend received if any of the following occur:

1. Recipient withdraws from the program without graduating;

2. Recipient does not comply with the employment search requirements noted above in Section B.2.

3. Recipient is terminated for cause from employment during the duration of employment required under Section B.2.c, in which case the Recipient will be required to repay the stipend in an amount prorated to reflect the remaining duration left in the employment obligation, unless the Recipient is able to secure another qualifying position within 3 months of termination. 

2. Recipient can choose to repay stipend at any time before employment obligation is fulfilled. Repayment amount will be prorated to reflect the remaining duration left in the employment obligation. This requires Recipient notifying CASCW and arranging repayment with the University Office of Financial Resolution Services.

3. Accounts sent for repayment will be sent to the University Office of Financial Resolution Services.  Recipients may make a payment arrangement with the University Office of Financial Resolution Services; if Recipient fails to make a payment consistent with the requirement of such payment arrangement, Recipient’s account may be referred to an outside agency for collection and will be filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for revenue recapture.  Recipient would be responsible for any related collection fees.

4. All repayments shall be made within 10 years of the date the Recipient became obligated to repay the stipend. 

Recipient agrees to accept the stipend award for the 2026-2027 academic year and agrees to all conditions and requirements outlined in this agreement.  The stipend is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the requirements, being and remaining a student in good standing, and continuation of federal funding of the Title IV-E program at University.  This agreement supersedes any University agreement previously signed by Recipient regarding the IV-E stipend program.