AUM social work students receive stipends to pursue careers in child welfare

An Alabama program aimed at helping to address the state and nationwide deficits of child welfare social workers will help three Auburn University at Montgomery students advance in their educational and professional development.

AUM social work majors Rickey Embry, Jamiya Hunter and LaChina Potts will each receive $10,000 awards from the state’s Title IV-E Stipend Program to support their career development in the sector of child welfare. In addition to the financial support, these awards provide internships and post-graduation employment opportunities with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR).

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Alabama are eligible to apply for the educational stipends, which are funded through a multifaceted grant provided by the state’s Title IV-E Traineeship Program. Coordinated by The University of Alabama, the program is part of the Alabama Higher Education Consortium on Child Welfare, in cooperation with ADHR. AUM is a member of the consortium, said Susan Cashwell, BSW program director at AUM.

“This is the second year our students have received stipend awards through our consortium membership,” Cashwell said. “As more students apply for the traineeship program, we have a greater chance to help alleviate the deficit in the child welfare workforce. We are seeing the demand for child welfare workers outpace the availability of trained professionals.”

The traineeship program encourages more young professionals to specialize in child and family social work, ultimately improving outcomes for Alabama’s children, Cashwell added.

“The nationwide challenges of recruiting child welfare workers are exacerbated by high caseloads, difficult responsibilities, inadequate pay, and high turnover,” she said. “Alabama is striving to address all of these issues and is making a concerted effort to improve the situation. In Alabama, child welfare social workers are now among the highest paid in positions requiring a BSW.”

Embry, Hunter, and Potts — who will all complete their BSW degrees in December 2024 — are optimistic about the impact they will be able to make in the child welfare field after receiving the stipends, which allow them to focus more on reaching their educational goals.

As a medical assistant at a pediatrics clinic for three years, Potts witnessed the incredible impact social workers can have on the lives of children and their families through advocacy, support, and intervention.

“I’m pursuing a BSW because of my deep passion for helping children and my rewarding experience working with families at the clinic,” said Potts, who will start her internship at Chambers County DHR in the fall. “Receiving this stipend significantly eases the financial strain of pursuing my BSW. As a single parent, this stipend allows me to focus more on my studies and practical experience rather than worrying about financial stress.”

When Embry enrolled as a freshman at AUM, he was undecided on a major until an academic advisor suggested social work. Working with an advisor and receiving the stipend have paved a clear path for him to pursue a future career in social work, Embry said.

“I quickly found that social work struck at the core of what exactly I wanted to do with my career choice,” said Embry, who will complete his internship at Montgomery County DHR. “I feel that in the future, I’ll always be proud of the work I’m doing even when it becomes challenging. The stipend is great because I can attend graduate school for my MSW faster. My overall goal currently for my career is to become a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW).”

The stipend not only helps ease the financial burdens of attending college but also better equips social work students to effectively serve families and pursue a career in child welfare, said Hunter, who will also complete her internship at Montgomery County DHR.

“My hope is to help create nurturing environments where children can thrive, and families can grow stronger together,” she said. “I believe in the power of compassion and advocacy to transform lives. Helping people overcome challenges and make positive changes is deeply fulfilling to me. My goal is to support and strengthen families by addressing issues related to child welfare, family dynamics, and overall family well-being.”

The state’s Title IV-E Program pays stipends over 18 months to students while providing professional coaches and post-graduation employment at an ADHR regional office. In addition to the stipend program, AUM receives a grant through the Title IV-E Traineeship Program to provide training to current ADHR employees.