Funded Field Programs
Through these programs, students can obtain training to work with specific populations or in specific practice settings. All programs have a field component and offer student funding.
For BSW and MSSW Students
CWEC
Child Welfare Education Collaboration: This program prepares students for child welfare practice and is a partnership between the Steve Hicks School and the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, Child Protective Services (CPS).
For MSSW Students Only
A&R
Addiction & Recovery Scholars Program
- Focus: Interprofessional health education with a focus on substance use disorders.
- Who: MSSW clinical students.
- Requirements: A & R extended field placement, approximately 30 training hours.
- Funding: $10,000 award.
- Questions? Contact Robin Smith.
BRIDGE Program
The Building Related Service Capacity through Interdisciplinary Education & Experience Scholars Program is a partnership among the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Special Education, and the Texas Center for Disability Studies.
- Focus: Middle and high school students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), often those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Who: MSSW final field students in 2020/2021 who are eligible for federal financial aid.
- Requirements: BRIDGE field placement; agree with the U.S. Department of Education payback service requirements of 2 years of employment post-graduation with children with disabilities.
- Funding: Tuition (12hrs Fall, 12hrs Spring and 6hrs Summer); $6,000 stipend divided over Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021. The program provides up to two awards per year.
- Questions? Contact Sandy Magaña.
CCK Scholars Program
The Cap City Kids Scholars Program is a joint effort of CapCityKids (a nonprofit 501c3 organization), the Austin Independent School District (AISD), and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work to provide preventative services to AISD students at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The program maintains a field unit within AISD with an internship coordinator and field instructor dedicated full-time to supervise CCK Scholars.
- Focus: School-based services.
- Who: MSSW Students.
- Requirements: CCK field placement.
- Funding: $2,500 award. The program provides 10 + awards annually. Most awards go to first-field interns; final-field interns interview competitively.
- Questions? Contact Tanya Voss.
Earl Maxwell Scholars Program
This program funds up to 10 MSSW students each year to be placed in agencies that don’t have a social worker on staff to serve as field instructor. The program also funds a Steve Hicks School faculty member who serves as field instructor. This program is supported by the St. David’s Foundation.
- Focus: Social services.
- Who: MSSW students.
- Funding: $10,000 award. The program offers ten awards each year.
- Questions? Contact Starla Simmons.
Fernandez International Field Award
This award provides financial support for students who are selected for international field placements with the goal of making this experience accessible to a wider range of students.
- Focus: International social work.
- Who: MSSW students.
- Requirements: International field placement. Students apply for this award when they submit their applications for international field in August. Awards are granted based on presented financial need and offered with the international field placement, allowing awardees to factor the funding into their decision. Awards are granted at the end of the fall semester upon successful completion of the fall international field seminar.
- Award: Up to $5,000 award to 2 MSSW students, based on financial need.
- Questions? Contact Tanya Voss.
GRACE Program
The Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education Scholars Program prepares students to work with older adults and is supported by the St. David’s Foundation.
- Focus: Geriatric social work.
- Who: MSSW students.
- Requirements: GRACE field placement, five GRACE workshops.
- Funding: $7,500 award. The GRACE Program provides 24 awards per year. Funding is divided equally between students in first field and final field. Students may do both field placements in GRACE settings and apply for funding each time. GRACE students may apply for an all-expenses paid trip to the Aging in America Conference, which occurs each spring. At commencement, students receive the designation of GRACE Scholar.
- Questions? Download a one-pager. Contact Sarah Swords.
IBHS Program
The Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars Program seeks to build a diverse and culturally competent behavioral health workforce with expertise in delivering integrated behavioral health care, particularly to underserved populations in Texas. The program is administered through the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and funded by HRSA.
- Focus: Interprofessional health education.
- Who: MSSW clinical students.
- Requirements: IBHS extended field placement, approximately 30 training hours. Scholars are placed at IBHS field sites in the spring prior to final field. The Office of Field Education provides more information about the early selection interview process at the February orientation to final field, 11 months prior to the spring internship start.
- Funding: $10,000 award. The IBHS Program provides 12 awards each year.
- Questions? Contact Eboni Calbow.
Leben Play Therapy Scholars Program
This program seeks to enhance educational opportunities for social workers in the area of play therapy. The program is funded through the Norma and Clay Leben Endowment for Excellence in Play Therapy Methods.
- Focus: Play therapy methods.
- Who: MSSW clinical students.
- Requirements: Extended field placement in setting that provides significant play therapy opportunities, attend three training events. Students are required to attend the following professional development events for free: Norma Leben Play Therapy Workshop, Texas School Social Work Conference, and Annual Leben Play Therapy Symposium.
- Funding: $2,000 award.
- Questions? Contact Mary Beer.
St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholars Program
The program prepares social workers to provide culturally competent health and mental health services to Spanish-speaking clients in Central Texas.
- Focus: Bilingual clinical social work.
- Who: MSSW clinical students.
- Requirements: Spanish and English fluency, field placement that requires bilingual skills. Applicants must be newly admitted, be fluent in Spanish and English, and submit an application that includes a two-page essay and resume. Finalists are interviewed to assess Spanish fluency; both native and non-native Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply.
- Funding: $10,000 award. The program offers up to 10 awards for one or two years, depending on the program of work.
- Questions? Contact: Dante Vargas.