Carver School of Social Work BSW Program
Public Child Welfare Certification Program
(PCWCP)

The Public Child Welfare Certification Program is a pre-service education and training program for undergraduate junior and senior social work students designed to support the recruitment and retention of child welfare workers.  The creative partnership between the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Community Based Services, and public/private universities with social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education serves as a national model for improved child welfare services.  This joint effort includes a special tract of child welfare courses and agency training courses for junior and senior students accepted into the program.  The goal of the program is to fill the ranks of Child Welfare with the most competent and well-trained workers who can provide high quality services immediately following employment.

These students are provided tuition assistance and a stipend each semester they are in the program.  Upon graduation, these students must complete a two-year employment commitment with Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Campbellsville University is allocated a minimum of ten (10) bachelor level student slots for admission per year. 

To be eligible for the program, you must be a fulltime BSW social work major.  You must have

• An overall cumulative GPA of 2.5
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in social work courses
• Receive no less than a “B” in the required PCWCP courses and field practicum
• At least 3 semesters and not more than 4 semesters of undergraduate courses left to take
• Have taken a social work practice course prior to taking the second of two PCWCP courses

To date, Campbellsville University has graduated 19 PCWCP students.  There are currently 11 social work students in the program.  PCWCP graduates are employed in Protection and Permanency Offices across the state including: Adair, Nelson, Hardin, Grayson, Taylor, Washington, Marion, LaRue and Casey.  Approximately 30 to 35% of each social work cohort at the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling is currently entering the PCWCP program.