Child Welfare Education for Leadership (CWEL)

What is CWEL?

The Child Welfare Education for Leadership (CWEL) program is a cooperative effort among the United States Administration for Children and Families, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the accredited schools of social work in Pennsylvania. Its goal is to strengthen public child welfare services in Pennsylvania by providing educational opportunities at the graduate level for public child welfare personnel. Qualified persons who are admitted to any of the approved schools on either a full or part-time basis may receive substantial financial support in return for a contractual obligation to continue employment with the sponsoring agency following their studies.

Who is qualified to apply?

Any employee of a Pennsylvania county child welfare agency may apply provided the applicant has the prerequisite academic degree from an accredited institution of higher education; has been employed by the same agency for at least one year; has at least satisfactory performance evaluations, including currently; and (if applying for full-time study) is granted an educational leave by the employing agency for the purpose of enrolling in the CWEL program. Persons in default of federal educational loans are ineligible. Caseworkers, supervisors and administrative personnel are all eligible to participate.

Which schools are accredited and approved?

The graduate programs approved in Pennsylvania are located at Bryn Mawr College, Kutztown University, Marywood University, Millersville University, Shippensburg University, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, 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 apply to any of these schools.

For further information on CWEL, contact the program administrator at the University of Pittsburgh at 1-866-ASK-CWEL (1-866-275-2935).