Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program Stipend Awarded to 2 Social Work Majors
December 3, 2020
Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Department of Social Work announces Northwestern-Enid seniors Jamie Metcalf and Heather Wilkinson are the stipend recipients of the Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program (CWPEP) for the 2020-2021 academic year.
CWPEP provides funds for students who plan careers in child welfare services in Oklahoma. The stipends are awarded to full-time students majoring in social work and provide money toward educational expenses to participating students. Students who receive the stipends complete educational internships in child welfare agencies within the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). Upon graduation, students are assured employment in the participating DHS programs.
Jamie Metcalf
“It is an honor to be selected to receive the CWPEP grant,” Metcalf said. “I have dreamed of the day I could make a true difference and impact the lives of children and families. To know that I will be given the chance to work alongside (changed this slightly-doesn’t change her meaning) other social workers in the state of Oklahoma, is a wish come true. Thank you for recognizing me and my hard work. This is the chance of a lifetime, to follow the career of my dreams.”
CWPEP is a Title IV-E partnership between the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Council, and Social Work Education (CSWE) in accredited social work programs in Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma manages the child welfare consortium. Other partners along with Northwestern include East Central University and Oral Roberts University.
Heather Wilkinson
“I am honored to be selected as a recipient as I have dreamed of working with families and children for as long as I can remember,” Wilkinson said. “As a child welfare specialist, I plan to be an advocate for those families and be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am excited for the opportunity to work in child welfare, and I cannot wait to put the knowledge I have gained from Northwestern into practice.
“I would like to thank my wonderful professors for encouraging me to apply for this program and providing social work students at Northwestern with all the tools they need to be successful. I am also grateful for my family and friends for constantly supporting me throughout my college career and pushing me to be the best I can be.”
Funding for the educational program is provided by Title IV-E of the social security act, called the Child Welfare Training program.
“The social work program is proud to administer the CWPEP program and play an essential role in securing and retaining quality social workers in the public child welfare system,” Dr. Kylene Rehder, department of social work chair, CWPEP coordinator, and professor of social work, said. “CWPEP at Northwestern has graduated 17 students, resulting in more than $130,000 being awarded in educational assistance.”
The CWPEP program at Northwestern is administered by Rehder. For more information on Northwestern’s department of social work, contact Rehder at (580) 327-8135 or kdrehder@nwosu.edu.
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