The University Partnership Program

UPP students, in BSW and MSW programs, take special Child Welfare courses, complete a field placement in a PCSA, and, upon graduation receive partial tuition reimbursement after accepting a casework position in an Ohio PCSA. Those who complete the program may not have to take the required CORE training all other new child welfare workers must complete the first year of employment.

The University Partnership Program now includes eight public universities in Ohio: The Ohio State University, Akron University., Ohio University., Wright State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University.   Senior BSW students in the program are required to have a field placement in a public child welfare agency, complete the standardized two-course curriculum sequence, and work one year at an Ohio PCSA for each year in the University Partnership program. Some universities also offer a junior year program and a MSW program that does not currently have a standardized curriculum. UPP students have become very popular with Ohio’s 88 county PCSAs. The program was evaluated in 2007 and 2009 by OSU faculty. 

•  UPP's Participating Universities

•  UPP's Contact List

•  UPP's Vision

•  UPP's Requirements

•  UPP's Application

•  UPP's Resources

•  UPP's Employment

UPP's Participating Universities:

•  University of Akron

•  University of Cincinnati

•  Cleveland State University

•  Ohio University

•  The Ohio State University

•  University of Toledo

•  Wright State University

•  Youngtown  State University

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• 2010 University Partnership Program: Contact List for School Directors and Campus Coordinators

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In the future, all Ohio PCSA caseworkers will:

• Be competent, satisfied career professionals who continue to be enthusiastic, creative, and respected for their work;
• Work in supportive agencies with excellent supervision that provides personal reward and incentives that focus on the career line social worker;
• Be advocates empowered to coach and mentor children and families based on best-practice standards; and
• Have MSW degrees and be considered the best trained and educated child welfare workers in the nation.

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UPP Requirements:

BSW seniors and MSW candidates admitted to the UPP are required to take two specialized, standardized child welfare courses and complete a one-year internship at an Ohio PCSA. UPP graduates receive $5,000 of tuition reimbursement per year of UPP participation, with a two-year maximum, provided they secure full-time employment in direct services at an Ohio PCSA within 180 days of graduation.

Potential Waiver of Caseworker Core Training for UPP Graduates:
Completion of required social work courses, along with completion of the UPP's two required child welfare courses and one-year internship have been deemed by the UPP planning committee to provide the equivalent to all the competencies covered in Caseworker Core training, with the exception of the Legal Aspects Core Module. Some UPP students take the Legal Aspects Module through an OCWTP Regional Training Center (RTC) before graduation. Those that do not must complete the Legal Aspects Module within their first year of PCSA employment. Based on this, Ohio House Bill 95 stipulates that PCSA directors have the option to waive Caseworker Core training requirements for newly hired UPP graduates, provided they have already taken the Legal Aspects Module or will take it within their first year.

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•  The Child Welfare Workforce Professional Education Program (CWWPEP) Policies & Procedures Manual: (Under revision)

  • Chapter 1: Introduction to the Child Welfare Workforce Professional Education Program (CWWPEP)
  • Chapter 2: Administration
  • Chapter 3: Contracts
  • Chapter 4: Recruitment & Selection of Students
  • Chapter 5: Public Child Welfare Course Curricula
  • Chapter 6: Field Placement
  • Chapter 7: Integration of Course Curricula with Field Placement Activities
  • Chapter 8: Student Job Placement
  • Chapter 9: Evaluation

• Sample UPP Field Instructor Information from Franklin County Children Services:
  • UPP Field Instructor Qualifications
  • UPP Field Instructor Application
  • UPP Field Instructor Training Guide
  • UPP Field Instructor Training Outline
  • UPP Field Instructor Contract
  • UPP Field Instructor Pay Request
• Fact Sheet: Ohio Child Welfare University Partnership Program (CWUPP)
• The Ohio Title IV-E University Partnership Child Welfare Education Program Evaluation (June 2009: Denise E. Bronson, MSW, Ph.D., & Tamara S. Davis, MSSW, Ph.D.)
• The Ohio Title IV-E University Partnership Child Welfare Education Program Evaluation (June 2007: Denise E. Bronson, MSW, Ph.D., & Tamara S. Davis, MSSW, Ph.D.)

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•  PCSAs, are you looking for employees, here's the list of UPP graduates looking for PCSA caseworker positions.
•  UPP graduates, are you looking for an employer? Check out our Employment Opportunities with PCSAs
  •  For UPP Students:  Worksheet to Evaluate PCSA Job Benefits and Conditions.

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