KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Due to the nationwide need for social workers, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with five of the state’s universities on a program aimed at attracting and retaining people in the profession.

Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University offer a scholarship of $5,000 per semester to students enrolled in their respective programs.

Depending on the social work department, students can receive this scholarship for up to six semesters.

Some people who enter the field don’t understand the work they’re doing and don’t have the opportunity to practice the profession, says Dr. Anna Yelick, assistant professor at Western Michigan University’s School of Social Work.

She believes the program will alleviate these concerns.

“The goal of this program is to attract people to child welfare, train them, and hopefully keep them there,” Yelick said.

There are several different areas of social work that students can study, including case management, child protection investigations, and foster care casework.

“It’s really open,” said Dr. Yelick. “There are so many different options you can choose from in child protection. That makes it really exciting.”

Social work is also difficult, another reason why many people don’t stay in the profession, says Yelick.

On their worst days, people deal with broken families and often encounter abused children.

The program enables WMU to identify the right people for the right social work department.

Yelick told News Channel 3 on Thursday that doing social work is rewarding, making a difference for families and communities.

“At the end of the day, you realize, ‘Actually, I’m working with families who have been mistreated by a support system, that they lack the resources they need, and I can give them those tools.’ And then you see those families get better,” Yelick said.

There are still places available in the Western Michigan University program for interested parties.

It begins with the start of lectures on August 28th.