CWEB FAQ

Eligible students may enroll for a bachelor's degree in social work (BASW, BSW) at any of the undergraduate schools or departments of social work in Pennsylvania accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved to participate in the CWEB program. The school's offering must include child welfare specific course work and public child welfare practicum instruction (internship) opportunities.

The 22 programs approved in Pennsylvania are located at Alvernia University, Cedar Crest College, Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg University, Elizabethtown College, Juniata College, Kutztown University, Lancaster Bible College,  Marywood University, Messiah University, Millersville University, Misericordia University, Penn West University (California and Edinboro), Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University and Widener University. The number of openings at each school is limited and may vary from year to year. Applicants may be enrolled in any of these 22 schools.

Effective July 2022, the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) officially integrated six of its universities.  Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities are now known collectively as “Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.”  California and Edinboro universities, along with Clarion University, are now known as “Pennsylvania Western University.” For more information, refer to the PASSHE System Redesign Integration FAQ webpage.

• The application process includes three distinct components: Official acceptance as a social work major at one of the approved schools with status of at least a junior
• A recommendation from the designated social work faculty of the school in which the applicant is enrolled; and
• Online application to the CWEB program

Persons who meet the basic qualifications must discuss their application with their social work faculty. It is important that applicants clearly advise their school of their interest in a child welfare career and the CWEB program. CWEB applications may be filed any time after the beginning of the applicant's junior year. The deadlines for submitting the online CWEB application are April 30 for Fall entry and November 15 for Spring entry. The selection of students is based upon criteria which include interest in a child welfare career, caliber of personal statement, grade point average, availability of practicum placements (internships), faculty recommendations, date of application, geographic distribution, space availability in the approved programs, and available funding. Submit an Online CWEB Application.

The purpose of the CWEB program is to strengthen public child welfare services in Pennsylvania. Thus, an attempt will be made to distribute the available fellowship support as broadly as possible across the state. If more students apply from any one university than can be offered fellowship support, any student may nevertheless pursue child welfare courses, practicum placements (internships), and employment opportunities. 

Students admitted to the CWEB program for study at the undergraduate level are required to satisfy all academic requirements for the degree program to which they are admitted. These requirements include credit hours, satisfactory grades, and practicum instruction (internship).

In addition, there are several specific academic requirements:

• At least one child welfare course
• A practicum work assignment (internship) of at least 400 clock hours in a public child welfare agency
• Course content in cultural diversity and racial equity
• Completion of selected Pennsylvania competency and skills-based training certification modules (known as Foundations of Pennsylvania Child Welfare Practice), usually as part of practicum work (internship)

Normal progress toward completion of the degree as defined by the school is expected. Full-time enrollment is encouraged and is most typical. 

Pennsylvania operates two hiring systems for county child welfare caseworkers: Civil Service and Merit Hire. Approximately 64% (43) of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties currently operate under the State Civil Service System, while another 34% (23) have established their own county-based merit hire system. Philadelphia County operates its own hiring system. 

In summary, Pennsylvania has some counties which participate in the State Civil Service System and some which do not. A map outlining the county hiring systems is available here. Because Pennsylvania has both Civil Service and Merit Hire systems in place across its 67 counties, CWEB students can complete an internship in one type of county child welfare hire system and then obtain employment in another type of county child welfare hire system. Each scenario has implications for the hiring process and require different actions to be taken by the CWEB graduate to secure county child welfare agency employment.

The State Civil Service Commission is a system of employment that recruits, refers and promotes individuals based on their qualifications and ability to perform the job.  Prior to the start of the internship, students wanting an appointment as a County Social Casework Intern must apply for open positions by going to this link Applications and searching County Social Casework Intern. 

CWEB students who are appointed as County Social Casework Interns occupy an official Civil Service position and must complete 975 hours of internship.  They are then eligible for hire in any PA Civil Service public child welfare agency and do not have to take any additional Civil Service examinations.  Upon hire, the CWEB graduate is promoted from a County Social Casework Intern position to either a Caseworker I or Caseworker II position. 

CWEB students who complete less than 975 hours in a PA Civil Service county and do not participate in the State Civil Service Social Casework Internship program must apply directly to a County Caseworker 1 C&Y or County Caseworker 2 C&Y job posting by going to this link Applications and searching County Caseworker. 

View a tutorial for Civil Service employment procedures.

CWEB students who complete their internship in a Merit Hire County (non-Civil Service) agency must apply for Caseworker openings through the county’s website.  Counties are under no obligation to hire a CWEB intern and there may be no open positions in the county where the internship was completed.

Students who complete their internship in a Merit Hire County and want to be hired in a Civil Service County should apply directly by going to this link Applications and searching County Caseworker.  Students should begin applying to County Caseworker 1 C&Y or County Caseworker 2 C&Y job postings about two months prior to graduation.

Up to seven months prior to graduation, CWEB students interning in Merit Counties must apply to the online exam postings for County Caseworker 1 C&Y exam AND County Caseworker 2 C&Y exam.  These are separate postings and a score is obtained for each. 

Once your scores are received, you must go to this site to apply for open Caseworker positions in Civil Service counties and search Open Jobs, then Social Services 

Philadelphia operates its own unique internship and employment system within the civil service system.  CWEB participants who wish to work at the Children and Youth Division of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services after graduation are advised to complete an internship at Philadelphia DHS Children and Youth Division when at all possible. 

Persons admitted to the CWEB program for full-time study will receive full tuition and fees at the in-state rate for their senior year at the school in which they are enrolled, a fellowship, and a book allowance. Out-of-state students enrolled in Pennsylvania state or state-related universities will receive tuition at the Pennsylvania resident level only. 

No, a student may not receive both payments.  Those students completing an internship within a county that places interns on payroll will receive their CWEB fellowship payment through the county.

Persons enrolled in the CWEB program are required to sign a legally binding contract agreeing to employment in a Pennsylvania public child welfare agency immediately upon graduation. This provision is a strict requirement in compliance with federal regulations and may not be waived for graduate study or delayed for any other purpose. There are 67 county child welfare agencies throughout the state. The student may fulfill the commitment in any of these agencies where vacancies exist. The CWEB faculty and staff provide support to students in the county agency job search process. The contractual period of employment is one calendar year for each academic year (or fraction of a year) for which the student receives financial support. This rarely exceeds one calendar year. Persons who do not secure employment and/or complete the contractual work commitment will be required to repay in cash the value of all funds paid to them or on their behalf.

The CWEB faculty maintain close contact with CWEB students and graduates. Students are required to provide the details of their course and internship activities each academic term, submit reimbursement requests on a regular and timely basis, and attend at least one meeting with CWEB faculty/staff each semester during their participation in the program. Virtual meetings are arranged on a bi-monthly basis and advance notification is provided that includes a link to the meeting.  CWEB faculty and/or staff may also travel to school campuses when conditions permit and hold an in-person meeting in the student’s geographic region. Graduates are required to keep the CWEB program advised of any changes of address or employment during the period of their CWEB work commitment. Both students and graduates are expected to participate in CWEB's annual program evaluation.  Recent CWEB graduates will be extended an opportunity to participate in a continuous quality improvement project 90 days after agency hire.  This project seeks to assist new graduates in the transition to employment and promote successful integration into the child welfare workforce.

County child welfare agencies are eager to employ social work graduates with child welfare preparation. Using their normal employment and personnel procedures, they recruit and employ CWEB graduates. Once employed, CWEB graduates are eligible for the normal and usual salaries and benefits, including educational benefits for graduate education through the CWEL program and other opportunities. Suitable employment is an assignment providing services to Title IV-E-eligible children and their families and commensurate with the employee's abilities and training.

No. The contractual obligation to commence with county child welfare agency employment within 60 days of graduation will not be waived or postponed for graduate study.

Under contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh administers the CWEB program for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh assists each student, school, and county participating in the program to make all the necessary arrangements prior to, during and following the student's enrollment and employment. Questions, technical assistance, contract monitoring, student employment and commitment obligations, financial administration, curriculum, and related matters are handled by the University of Pittsburgh.

Principal Investigator
Helen Cahalane, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2033 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-6386
E-mail: hcupgh@pitt.edu

CWEB Academic Coordinator
Brooke Rawls, Ph.D., LCSW
2010 Cathedral of Learning
(412) 624-2830
Email: bnr21@pitt.edu

Child Welfare Agency Coordinator
Laura Borish, MSW, LSW
School of Social Work University of Pittsburgh 
2012 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Email: lbb14@pitt.edu

Program Administrator
Joseph DiPasqua II, MA
2009 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA  15260
(412) 624-6310
 jfd28@pitt.edu

Listed below are the addresses and phone numbers of the participating social work programs. All applicants must apply to the school(s) of their choice by the admission deadline specified by the school(s).

Alvernia University
College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
Social Work Program
400 Saint Bernardine Street
Reading, PA  19607
(610) 796-8200

Bloomsburg Commonwealth University
Social Work Program
Department of Sociology, Social Welfare, and Criminal Justice
College of Arts and Sciences
2105 McCormick Center for Human Services
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
(570) 389-4237

PennWest California
Department of Social Work and Gerontology
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419-1394
(724) 938-5910

Cedar Crest College
Department of Social Sciences
Social Work Program
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA  18104
(610) 437-4471

East Stroudsburg University
Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice
101 Stroud Hall
200 Prospect Street
East Stroudsburg, PA  18301-2999
(570) 422-3453

PennWest Edinboro
Social Work Department
Hendricks Hall  G49
235 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
(814) 732-2013

Elizabethtown College
School of Public Service
Social Work Program
One Alpha Drive
Elizabethtown, PA  17022
(717) 361-1000

Juniata College
Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work and Sociology
1700 Moore Street
Huntingdon, PA  16052
(814) 641-3000

Kutztown University
Social Work Program
339 Old Main
B Wing, 3rd Floor
Kutztown, PA 19530
(610) 683-4235

Lancaster Bible College
Social Work Program
901 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA  17601
(717) 569-7071

Lock Haven Commonwealth University
Social Work Department
116 Akeley Hall
Lock Haven, PA 17745
(570) 484-3078

Mansfield Commonwealth University
Social Work Program
31 South Academy Street
Retan Hall
Mansfield, PA 16933
(570) 662-4661

Marywood University
School of Social Work 
2300 Adams Avenue
2^nd floor, Immaculata Hall
Scranton, PA 18509
(570) 348-6282 ext. 2398

Messiah University
School of Arts, Culture and Society
Social Work Department
One College Avenue
Mechanicsburg, PA  17055
(717) 766-2511

Millersville University
Social Work Department
Stayer Hall, Room 301
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA  17551-0302
(717) 871-7206

Misericordia University
College of Health Sciences and Education
Social Work Program
301 Lake Street
Dallas, PA  18612
(570) 674-6400

Shippensburg University
Department of Social Work and Gerontology
331 Shippen Hall
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717) 477-1717

Slippery Rock University
College of Health Professions
Department of Social Work
Jack Dinger Building
1 Morrow Way
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
(724) 738-2705

Temple University
College of Public Health
School of Social Work
Ritter Annex, 5th floor
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-5806

University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2101 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-6300

West Chester University

West Chester campus:
Anderson Hall
725 S. Church Street
West Chester, PA  19383

PASSHE Center City Campus:
701 Market Street, Concourse Level
Philadelphia, PA  19106

(610) 436-2527

Widener University
Center for Social Work Education
Bruce Hall
1604 Walnut Street
Chester, PA 19013-5792
(610) 499-1153

No taxes are withheld from fellowship payments nor does the University issue W2’s for these payments.

All students receiving a fellowship do need to review Publication 970 on the IRS website to determine whether any or all of the fellowship payment is taxable depending on how the payments were used. The student should consult with a tax professional if they have any further questions. More information is available on the University of Pittsburgh Payroll Department webpage.