Sponsored by the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Welfare System-Milwaukee

The Child and Family Scholars Program from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare provides one to two years of funding to an eligible PhD student, which includes:

  • A nine-month per year appointment
  • Monthly stipends totaling up to $17,400 per year
  • May include full coverage of resident tuition, a remission of the out-of-state portion of the tuition (if applicable), and low-cost comprehensive health benefits
  • Typically two years of funding for incoming students and one year of funding for current students
Student scholars fulfill research or teaching assistantships during program participation. Awards are subject to availability of funds. See the graduate school assistantship stipend schedules page for more information.

Who is eligible?

  • Incoming or current Social Welfare PhD students with a record of excellence in research-related activities
  • Students whose research interests focus broadly on the area of child and family
  • Students who intend to conduct applied scholarship with implications for social welfare policy and/or practice.

Specific topics of concern could include but are not limited to:

  • Child maltreatment and its prevention
  • Child welfare policy and practice
  • Maternal and child health
  • Family and child resilience
  • Adverse childhood experiences
  • Child carers
  • Grandparent caregivers
  • Juvenile justice

How Do I Apply?

  • Students must apply directly to the Scholars Program to be considered for the award.
  • Incoming students must submit the Scholars Program application independent of their PhD program application.

Applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Extent of previous research experience
  • Clarity of future vision for scholarship
  • Ability to articulate potential implications of future scholarship
  • Strength of character
  • Financial need

Apply to the Program

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