The state of Arizona is funding a $5 million grant to help Northern Arizona University produce caseworkers for Child Protective Services.
The university plans to use the money over the next five years for program costs and tuition reimbursements for social work students, who agree to become CPS caseworkers after graduation. The Arizona Daily Sun reports graduates would have to commit to CPS for a specific period of time to qualify for the tuition reimbursement for up to two years.
The university’s program coordinator Natalie Cawood said there is a need for highly trained workers in the child welfare system. The partnership between NAU and the state will create a new CPS degree track for some social work students.