Child Welfare Scholar Program receives $1.9 million grant to continue CYFD partnership

The Child Welfare Scholar Program in the School of Social Work has received a $1.9 million grant to continue a partnership with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department through 2025. Under the partnership, the School of Social Work provides financial assistance and professional development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students committed to working at CYFD’s Protective Services division after graduation. 

“This grant renewal means we can continue graduating highly skilled, licensed social workers to help meet the needs of New Mexico in the face of a growing workforce shortage,” says Mónica Montoya, program director and principal investigator.

The program, funded through the Title IV-E programs of the Social Security Act, aims to increase the number of social work graduates seeking employment with CYFD. The recent grant, awarded last fall, allows the program to increase scholarship benefits, ranging from $10,000 to $12,000 per student. 

“The grant will allow us to enhance our scholarships to cover more tuition costs,” Montoya says, “and help our efforts to recruit top-tier students committed to the social work profession.”