Mental Healthsocial Work Stipend Student Contract

Mental Healthsocial Work Stipend Student Contract

MENTAL HEALTHSOCIAL WORK STIPEND STUDENT CONTRACT

ACADEMIC YEAR ______

THIS AGREEMENT between The Regents of the University of California ______or California State University at ______or Loma Linda University or University of Southern California (hereinafter “University“) and Master of Social Work Student ______(hereinafter “Student” or “Graduate”) currently residing at ______is entered into this ___ day of ______, 20__.

By entering into this Agreement, the Student attests to the following:

1)His or her intent to participate in the Mental Health Program (hereinafter “Program”) offered under the auspices of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC).

2)His or her acceptance in and pursuit of the Advanced year of a graduate course of study in social work/social welfare at (hereinafter “University”) beginning ______, 20___ and ending not later than ______, 20__, leading to a Master of Social Work/Social Welfare degree.

Obligations of the University and of the Student under this Agreement are as follows:

Article I. OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY

The University will:

  1. Provide Student with an $18,500 annual stipend for one year of participation in the Program contingent upon good academic standing and upon availability of stipend funds.
  1. Assign Student to an appropriate field placement in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency.
  1. Inform Student that if submission to and satisfactory completion of criminal background prescreening pursuant to Department of Justice or other applicable regulationpermitted by law is a requirement for field placement and/or employment in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency, Student must comply with this requirement within the first semester or quarter of program enrollment.
  2. Assist Student in the employmentsearchprocess to obtain a payback positionin a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency by providing information about job openings and application processes in local counties and statewide.
  1. Suspend or terminate stipend payments if Student is not performing satisfactorily in the Program. If University determines that Student is not performing satisfactorily in courses and field work, or is not making satisfactory academic progress, or has violated established University codes of student conduct, or is out of compliance with the Program requirements,University reserves the right to suspend stipend payments or to discontinue Student’s participation in the program. Prior to such action, University will give Student notice of its intent to suspend or terminate payments.

Article II. OBLIGATIONS OF STUDENT OR GRADUATE

A. PRESCREENING AND PROGRAM PROVISIONS

  1. Student agrees to complete and maintain satisfactory academic progress and performance in courses, training, seminars, field placements and other surveys or instruments designated by the University to satisfy the requirements within the specific time.
  1. If Student has not completed the degree within the specific time frame, and if it is determined by the University that a good faith effort to complete the academic requirements has been made, Student may request a modification of the time frame by which completion of the academic requirements must be achieved.
  1. Student has a duty to disclose any previous or subsequent conviction of any crime that disqualifies individuals from field placement or employment in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency, which will render Student ineligible for, or cause termination from, the Program.
  1. Student agrees, within the first semester or quarter of Program enrollment, to be pre-screened for mental health employment, to be fingerprinted and to participate in the criminal clearance process pursuant to Department of Justice or other applicable screening regulations governing mental health employment in California.
  1. Unless specifically waived by the University in writing, Student agrees to maintain a valid driver’s license and any insurance required by the field placement or payback employer.
  1. Student is committed to seek and obtain employment for one calendar year for each academic year for which the stipend is granted, within the specified time frame in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency.

B. EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS

  1. Graduate agrees to make a good faith effort[1] to seek, apply for, accept, and provide evidence ofemployment within 180 days of graduation[2] in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agencyin a position at least at a level appropriate to a new MSW in mental health within the state of California. This means that Graduate must accept one of the first three qualifying positions offered, as described above. Graduate must render one calendar year of continuous and satisfactory full-time employment in a position at least at a level appropriate to a new MSW in mental health services.
  1. The payback obligation may be met through full-time, part-time, or unpaid employment (volunteering). If an employment or volunteer position is part-time, time must be pro-rated accordingly, e.g. Graduate with a half-time position must render two calendar years of employment to complete the equivalent of one calendar year of full-time employment.
  1. Graduate may use volunteering to meet the payback obligation under any of the following conditions:
  • Graduate has searched for paid employment in an eligible agency for at least 180 days following graduation;
  • Graduate’s individual situation warrants seeking volunteer positions upon graduation in lieu of a period of job-searching for full-time employment. Examples include: Graduates with a mental illness that impairs job-seeking activities and traditional employment; Graduates who are caring for a family member with a mental illness; Graduates with an acute or chronic health condition that affects progress toward full-time employment in a county or contract agency within stated timelines.
  • The field placement agency offers a volunteer position to Graduate upon graduation.
  • Graduate is offered volunteer hours while seeking employment.
  1. If Graduate has not secured employment within 180 days of graduation in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency, Graduate is subject to monetary payback. However, if Graduate has demonstrated that a good faith effort to secure paid or unpaid employment has been made, then Graduate may request in writing to the University a modification of the time frame by which qualifying employment must be obtained. Modifications of the agreement will be for a specific time frame. The University may deny the request, or the University may forward the request with its endorsement to CalSWEC. This request will be approved or denied by CalSWEC and the Department of Mental Health. If a modification of the time frame is granted by CalSWEC and the Department of Mental Health, Graduate must engage in an on-going comprehensive employment search of all qualifying agencies within all counties of the state of California during the modified time frame, and keep satisfactory documentation. [3]
  1. If Graduate has not secured qualifying employment within the state of California after one calendar year following degree conferral, Graduate must enter into monetary payback. However, if Graduate has engaged in an on-going, comprehensive search for qualifying employment of in all counties and jurisdictions in the state of California, and has made a consistent good faith effort to secure employment, and Graduate has not rejected any bona-fide offers of qualifying employment from a qualifying agency, then Graduate may apply in writing for a waiver of payback obligation. Requests for waiver of obligation require satisfactory documentation and evidence of local and statewide search efforts, require University endorsement of a waiver request, and requires CalSWEC and Department of Mental Health approval.
  1. Graduate will maintain the status of a citizen or permanent resident of the United Statesthroughout Program participation including the employment obligation.
C. MONETARY REPAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
  1. If Studentbegins but does not finish the academic school year for any reason, fails to register, withdraws from the University or from participation in the educational stipend program, is terminated from the program, or fails to graduate within the specified period of time or approved time modification(s), Student agrees to repay all stipend funds received.
  1. If Graduate withdraws from the program after graduation, or does not make a good faith effort to obtain qualifying employment, or declines qualifying employment, or fails to respond to requests by the University to provide evidence of qualifying employment, or fails to qualify[4] for appropriate employment, or is discharged from county employment under applicable County Civil Service rules or policies or is terminated prior to completion of the employment requirement due to unsatisfactory work performance[5] Graduate agrees to repay all stipend funds received and costs incurred by University or its fiscal agent in securing repayment.
  1. Repayment may be in the form of a lump sum payment, or Student may request that a repayment plan be established with the University or its fiscal agentat an agreed-upon amount each month, for a period of time not to exceed five years, the sum of all amounts received as support, together with all attorney’s fees and other costs and charges necessary for collection, including interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of ____percent (__ %) per annum beginning no later than the fourth calendar month following the date of termination of enrollment. Rates of interest shall be determined by the interest schedule of rates of the University attended.
  1. If Graduate begins monetary repayment, and subsequently takes eligible payback employment, employment may be substituted for monetary repayment on a pro-rated basis with the approval of the University.
  1. Should repayment not be received in a timely manner, University or its fiscal agent may undertake, but is not limited to, the following measures: 1) block Graduate’s records and withhold transcripts pursuant to University regulations, 2) Intercept Graduate’s tax returns and apply funds toward any amounts owed, and 3) Report delinquent repayment status to available credit bureaus.
  1. Collection costs and interest on the unpaid balance are determined by the University programs then in effect.
  1. To exercise the five-year repayment option,Student must execute the Mental Health Program repayment agreement with the University.

D. INTERRUPTION OF EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATION, STUDENT HARDSHIP, DISABILITY OR

DEATH

  1. If Graduate interrupts fulfillment of the employment obligation due to hardship or temporary disability, the Graduate shall notify the University and may request modification of the employment obligation for a specific time frame, or may withdraw from the program and repay stipend funds received on a pro-rata basis of qualifying employment completed.
  1. Upon written application to the University by the Graduate or Graduate’s legal representative, the Graduate may seek a waiver of the employment repayment obligations in the case of death, permanent disability or serious hardship. A waiver of the employment repayment obligation requires CalSWEC and Department of Mental Health approval.

E. COMPLIANCE AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

The University and CalSWEC are required to monitor the post-graduation of Graduates to ensure program compliance and to determine, verify, and report to the Department of Mental Health the completion of each stipend employment commitment. The University and CalSWEC may also collect data to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mental Health Program. The current expectation is that the Graduate will be contacted initially for program compliance and evaluation purposes no later than 180 days following graduation and at other times until completion of the employment or payback obligation. The Graduate may also be contacted after completion of payback obligation for the purpose of tracking retention in the mental health field. Consequently, Students and Graduates are required to cooperate and participate in the following ways:

  1. Provide the University and CalSWEC with permanent and updated contact information.
  1. Student/Graduate gives consent to be contacted by the University and/or by CalSWEC for the purpose of confirming completion of employment requirements and for conducting reasonable evaluation efforts, and agrees to participate in such efforts.

F. ADDITIONAL CONTRACTUAL TERMS

  1. Waiver. Any failure of University at any time, or from time to time, to enforce or require the strict keeping and performance by Student of any of the terms or conditions of the Agreement shall not constitute a waiver by the University of such a breach of any such terms or conditions and shall not affect or impair such terms or conditions in any way, or the right of the University at any time to avail itself of such remedies as it may have or any such breach or breaches of such terms or conditions.
  1. Severability. In the event any portion of this Agreement is declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be severed from this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall remain in effect, unless the effect of such severance would be to substantially alter the Agreement or obligations of the parties, in which case the Agreement may be immediately terminated.
  1. Precedence. In the event there is a conflict between any of the foregoing and the following Article III, the foregoing (Articles I and II) shall predominate.
  1. Disputes. Any disputes or disagreements arising under this Agreement shall be governed by procedures established by the University and by CalSWEC as set forth by the CalSWEC Mental Health Program. In cases involving Student/Graduate appeals to CalSWEC of University decisions regarding program administration, decisions of CalSWEC and DMHshall be final.
Article III. REVIEW AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Student will review these statements and indicate by initials that he or she has read the foregoing Contract and agrees to be bound by its provisions, including, but not limited to, the following:

InitialsPrescreening and Program Provisions

_____ Student will maintain satisfactory academic progress and will satisfactorily complete the courses, training, seminars, field placements, and other surveys or instruments designated by the University to satisfy the requirements of the Program within the specified time frame.

_____Student agrees, within the first semester or quarter of Program enrollment, to be pre-screened for Mental Health employment, to be fingerprinted and to participate in the criminal clearance process as required by the Department of Justice and other applicable regulations.

_____Student will maintain status as a citizen or as a permanent resident of the U.S. during participation in the program, including the employment obligation.

_____Student will maintain the use of a valid driver’s license and auto liability insurance as necessary for field placement and payback at all times during Program participation.

Employment Repayment Obligations

_____Graduate will fulfill the Program obligation after graduation through completion of

one (1) calendar year of qualifying employment for the academic year of support received.

_____After graduation, Graduate will seek, apply for, accept, and provide evidence of qualifying employment in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency within the state of California as described in the contract.

_____After Graduate has completed one year of qualifying employment, Graduate will provide evidence of completion of the one year of qualifying employment to the University.

_____Upon request by the University, Graduate will provide written documentation of the entire employment search as outlined in this contract

_____If, after 180 days of graduation, Graduate has not secured qualifying employment within the state of California, Graduate is subject to payback. However, if a good faith effort has been made to obtain qualifying employment and Graduate has not yet secured qualifying employment, Graduate may request in writing to the University a modification of the time frame by which qualifying employment must be obtained. Modifications must be specific. The University may deny the request, or it may forward the request with its endorsement to CalSWEC. If a modification of time is approved by CalSWEC and the Department of Mental Health, an on-going comprehensive search for qualifying employment within all counties and jurisdictions of the state of California must be made within the modified time frame. This decision is final.

_____ If Graduate has not secured qualifying employment within the state of California after one calendar year following graduation, Graduate must enter into monetarypayback. However, if Graduate has engaged in an on-going, comprehensive search for qualifying employment in all counties and jurisdictions in the state of California, and has made a good faith effort to secure employment, and Graduate has not rejected any bona-fide offers of qualifying employment from a qualifying agency, then Graduate may apply for a waiver of employment obligation. Requests for waiver of employment obligation require satisfactory documentation and evidence of local and statewide search efforts, require University endorsement of a Waiver, and require CalSWEC and Department of Mental Health approval.

Monetary Repayment Obligations (If Employment Obligation is not completed)

_____ If Student is subject to payback and fails to execute the MENTAL HEALTH STIPEND PROGRAM REPAYMENT AGREEMENT, the total stipend amount will become immediately due and payable.

_____If Student or Graduate enters into a payback agreement and fails, without written approval of the University, to make any scheduled monthly payment according to the repayment agreement, the total amount still owed shall, at the option of the University, become immediately due and payable.

_____By entering into this Agreement with the University, Student or Graduate hereby authorizes the University or its fiscal agent to recover the total accrued amount still owed plus interest, applicable costs, late fees, and attorney’s fees by any means provided by law.

Student Information

_____ Student or Graduate will inform the University of any change in name, mailing or e-mail address, or phone numberuntil such time as employment obligation has been fulfilled or any amount owed under this agreement is paid in full or otherwise retired.

_____ Student or Graduate agrees to respond to requests from the University to verify completion of employment obligation, program compliance or general inquiries within two weeks of the request.

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