College students who want to pursue a career in social work now have a new opportunity.
Warner University is one of 14 state universities partnering with the Department of Children and Families.
A stipend program will offer up to $12,000 to college students to provide training and internships as part of the program. In return, the students will agree to work for the state for two years after they graduate.
Warner will award the stipends to four students, with each student receiving $6,000 a year for two years.
In addition, DCF is also allocating $15,000 to the university to hire an adjunct faculty member to oversee the program and teach the two required courses.
University officials say they anticipate expanding the program to six students for the 2016-2017 school year.
The program comes after DCF came under fire in 2014 for child deaths that happened in families that had had contact with the agency. One of the recommendations made by the Florida Legislature is that DCF caseworkers hold a degree in social work.
The other schools taking part include:
- Barry University
- Florida A&M University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida International University
- Florida Memorial University
- Florida State University
- Saint Leo University
- Southeastern University
- University of North Florida
- University of South Florida
- University of West Florida