MDHHS expands program designed to strengthen child welfare workforce, help keep kids safe

Eight Michigan universities now participating in social worker student stipend program

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding its partnership with public universities to strengthen the state's child welfare workforce. Three additional universities, Oakland University, Eastern Michigan University and Ferris State University are joining the program that provides stipends to social work students who agree to work in under-resourced communities across the state after graduation. The three new additions bring the total number of participating schools to eight.

The University of Michigan manages the federally funded Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program, which provides students $5,000 to $15,000 per semester in stipends in exchange for a commitment to work in child welfare in Michigan after graduation for up to 16 months. Other participating universities include Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.

Currently, 82 students are enrolled in the program. Since its launch, 25 students have graduated, with 19 now employed by MDHHS.

"This program has already resulted in 25 graduates who have committed to protecting children and supporting families as part of Michigan's child welfare workforce," said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. "It helps support social work students financially as they prepare to enter the workforce and is critical to recruiting and retaining dedicated professionals."

Michigan, like many states, faces a shortage of child welfare workers. To address this, MDHHS launched the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program last year and increased funding for the program this year from $1.7 million to $4.5 million.

Elizabeth Montemayor, child welfare programming coordinator at Michigan State University, oversees 32 fellows in the program. She described the experience as incredibly rewarding, noting that strong preparation and mentorship are vital to supporting students' passion and commitment to child welfare.

The initiative equips future social workers with the skills and knowledge needed to serve Michigan families. Participating universities provide both financial assistance and educational resources to bachelor's and master's students pursuing child welfare careers.

"Being a Title IV-E fellow, I have had the opportunity to see the child welfare system beginning to end, from the initial allegation of child maltreatment to reaching permanency," said Ryan Drew, a Master of Social Work student who graduated in December 2025 from the University of Michigan. "Additionally, I have been able to collaborate with and learn from child advocates across the state via the Child Welfare Certificate curriculum and through the 2025 Michigan Justice for Children Conference. These experiences have deepened my passion for and commitment to infusing social justice into child welfare case management practice and cross-system delivery of services. I am looking forward to using this lens with the children, families and youth I work with in my future practice. I also am eager to show up with unconditional positive regard and empathy, which I have learned are crucial to this work."

"Going into a field in child welfare has always been a passion for me," said Justis Ferns, a Wayne State University Master of Social Work graduate. "The Title IV-E program helped bring my passion to reality. The program had courses specific to child welfare, which better prepared me for what the field was going to be like. It also offered a stipend, which helped tremendously with accomplishing grad school. I now work for MDHHS as a CPS specialist. The job has its struggles, but it is so rewarding and is preparing me for a brighter future. The network of people I have met has been very beneficial as they see my passion and the changes I will one day make."

For more information on the stipend program, visit Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship.

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