Ferris State University joins Michigan Department of Health and Human Services social worker student stipend program

Ferris State University has joined a social worker student stipend program, called the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program, through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Two other universities, Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University, also just joined the program, so there are eight total universities participating in the program. It provides stipends to social workers after they graduate to work in underserved communities around Michigan, helping to address the shortage the state is facing for child welfare workers. 

According to an article on Ferris State University’s website, Carrie Thompson, who serves as the Bachelor’s of Social Work Program Director and an associate professor at the university, was quoted as saying of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program, “Using the funding in this way will significantly help in the recruitment and training of students who are passionate about working with children and families who are involved in the child protection, foster care and adoption systems. It will also provide eligible students with much needed financial assistance during their senior internship in a child welfare agency.”

The Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program was established in 2025 with $1.7 million in federal funding, and this year, funding has increased to $4.5 million to bring in more individuals who are interested in working with children in a social work setting. With the increase in funding, the stipends the program can offer to individuals now ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per semester. In order to be eligible to receive the stipend, students must commit to working within the state of Michigan in child welfare for up to 16 months.

Elizabeth Hertel, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said, “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. It helps support social work students financially as they prepare to enter the workforce and is critical to recruiting and retaining dedicated professionals.”

There are currently 82 students enrolled in the program.

For more information about Ferris State University, visit the school’s website.