/ Child Welfare Program /
Minnesota State University, Mankato / Department of Social Work

Greetings!

If you are selected as a Child Welfare Stipend Program scholar, you will be asked to sign the attached Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). It summarizes the expectations to which you will be held. Please read this carefully. You must be willing to fulfill this MOA during the MSW program and upon graduation. DO NOT SIGN AND SUBMIT THIS UNTIL YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT YOU ARE A STIPEND RECEIPIENT. If notified, signing and submitting this document will indicate your acceptance of the stipend and its obligations. This document is provided only for your review at this time.

Best,

Robin R. Wingo, MSW, LISW

Director

MSW Child Welfare Stipend Program

STATE OF MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

MEMO OF AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

AND

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

AND

STUDENT’S NAME

This agreement is between the State of Minnesota, acting through its Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Universities, on behalf of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Department of Social Work, 238 Wigley Administration Center, Mankato MN 56001 (hereinafter “MnSCU”), and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 64943 St. Paul, MN 55164-0944 (hereinafter “DHS”), and (insert student name and address, please print)

______

______,(hereinafter “I”).

Contingent upon continuation of Title IV-E funding and contract approval by the DHS, MnSCUwill provide a stipend to Master of Social Work (hereinafter “MSW”)students who apply and are accepted as MSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Program (hereinafter “CWP”) scholars. Recipients of this stipend agree to the following conditions associated with acceptance of this stipend.

  1. As a MSWCWP scholar, I agree to register for the required credits, each semester, associated with my admission status to the MSW program:

a.Foundation year, semester one – 9 credits; semester two – 11 credits

summer – 8 credits.

b.Advanced Standing, summer – 3 credits; complete Concentration year.

c.Concentration year, semester one – 12 credits; semester two – 10 credits;summer –8 credits; plus 3 credit elective

  1. I agree to complete at least one field placement in a public (county, state, or tribal) child welfare agency. An exemption may be granted for ONE practicum in the case of students who have substantial (5 years or more) experience in county, state or tribal child welfare services.
  1. I agree to attend all MSW CWSP Scholar meetings, advisement meetings, seminars, and conferences sponsored by the program each semester I am enrolled.
  1. I will participate in the annual evaluation process and any additional research processes related to the MSW CWP.
  1. I agree to the following academic standards:

a.I agree to maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

b.I agree to follow all policies of the MSW Program as outlined in the MSW Student Handbook in addition to the requirements specific to being a MSW CWSP Scholar as outlined in the MSW CWSP Handbook.

c.I understand that failure to adhere to these academic standards will result in the loss of my child welfare stipend, and requires repayment in full of any money received through the MSW CWSP.

  1. I agree to submit a copy of the Executive Summary and access to the full size poster of my Capstone Project, if completed in a public child welfare setting, to the MSW CWSPDirector.
  1. If anticipated graduation is delayed due to an approved leave of absence following the MSW Program policy outlined in the MSW Student Handbook, the employment obligation will begin upon graduation from the program. If a leave has been approved and a student elects not to resume study at its conclusion, the payback obligation is in effect immediately.
  1. I understand that the fulfillment of my employment obligation begins with my actual graduation date. I understand that I may begin searching for employment (described below) prior to graduation and that I may hold such employment while receiving CWP funding, but that such employment will not be counted towards the fulfillment of my obligation to the program until the actual graduation date or exit from the MSW program.
  1. Upon graduation or exit from the MSW program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, I agree to seek employment for a minimum of 3 months in the area of public child welfare in a public (county, state, tribal or other approved) child welfare agency working with or on behalf of Title IV-E eligible children and to accept such a position if one is available and offered within the 3 month job search process outlined below. I agree to remain employed in the area of public child welfare services for a period of time equal to the length of time I receive support, semester for semester. (Fall and spring semesters equal 4.5 monthseach, summer equals 2.5months.)
  1. I agree to the following job search/payback guidelines. Forms and job search guidelines are provided in the MSW CWSPhandbook to document job search and payback progress. Forms must be filed with the MSW CWSP Director.

a.It is my legal obligation to search for and accept a job, if offered, within a minimum of 50 mile radius of my home, in a public (county, state tribal or other approved) child welfare agency with or on behalf of Title IV-E children, preferably in the State of Minnesota. Usually this means a child welfare unit in foster care, adoptions, child protection or a combination of those.

b.I agree to register with the Minnesota Merit System and other state registration systems as appropriate and to submit verification of my registration prior to graduation.

c.I understand that I must search for a job for a minimum of three months post-graduation using the Minnesota Merit System and other state registration systems or networks as appropriate.

d.I agree to submit an Employment Search Documentation form, detailing my job search process and verification of concurrent Minnesota Merit system or other state registration systems or networks monthly upon graduation.

e.If I am offered a position, I agree to submit a Confirmation of Child Welfare Employment form. If I continue in a position in which I am employed, I agree to submit a Confirmation of Child Welfare Employment form.

f.I agree to send updated employment information every six months, for the duration of my payback obligation to the MSW CWPCoordinator/Manager.

g.After completing the required employment payback, I agree to submit a Completion of Child Welfare Employment Requirement form.

h.If after three months, I have not obtained a job in the public child welfare sector it is expected that I will continue my job search in the field of child welfare.

i.I agree to keep the MSW CWSPCoordinator/Manager updated regarding my home address and employment status for 3 years post-graduation and agree to participate in requests for information related to my employment during that time.

  1. I understand that I must repay the stipend if any of the following takes place:

a.I am dismissed or requested to withdraw from the MSW CWSP by the Department of Social Work;

b.I voluntarily am dismissed or requested to withdraw from the MSW program.

c.I am released from employment either voluntarily or due to wrongdoing on my part before completing my entire employment obligation.

d.If released from employment, I do not document job search/new child welfare employment for a minimum of 3 months to fulfill the remainder of my obligation. Repayment amount will be prorated based on the amount of time remaining in my employment payback obligation;

e.I fail to submit the required documentation/fulfill the employment or job search obligations described above.

If financial repayment is required, notices related to your obligation to repay the child welfare stipend will be sent to your last known address. If financial repayment or an arrangement for financial repayment is not made within the time dictated by MSU, M Student Account Services, the account will be transferred to MSU, Mankato’s Collections Office. All costs incurred in attempting to collect the amount owed, including, but not limited to, attorney fees, agency fees, late fees, installment payment fees, and administrative fees will be the responsibility of the defaulting student. The obligation to repay the stipend exists whether or not the notice setting forth the period for financial repayment is received. If collection efforts are necessary, they will be conducted by the University collection office or an outside agency of their choosing and will be subject to penalties and interest. An official hold will be placed on academic records in all MnSCU system institutions until the stipend is fully repaid including any costs of collection.

I, ______(print name), accept this stipend for the 2013-2014 academic year, and agree to all conditions as outlined in this agreement and as further detailed in the 2013-2014 BSSW CWP Student Handbook.

I understand that the stipend is contingent upon continuation of federal funds and may be discontinued with minimal notice. Obligations for employment and or financial payback are in effect independent of program continuation.

______

Student Signature Date

Program Coordinator/ManagerDate

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CWP MSW MOA – MnDHS, MSUM, DSW – 022514dg