Limestone College's Social Work Program has joined the South Carolina Professional Development Consortium. The Consortium is comprised of all accredited social work programs in educational institutions in the state (U.S.C. Columbia, Winthrop University, South Carolina State University, Coker College, Columbia College, and Limestone College) and is partnering with the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) to prepare workers for public child welfare positions in our state.

As a result of that alliance, the Social Work Program has been awarded a small grant to provide stipends to selected students (annually) wishing to receive certification as trained Child Welfare workers. Students commit themselves to working with DSS for a specified period following graduation and completion of the certification program. The classes will be available to all Limestone students pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Participants will receive a Child Welfare Certification upon successfully completing two classes designed specifically in the child welfare area and completing 400 hours of field work training with DSS.

"The intention behind the program is to develop a training experience that will not only equip new social workers in the latest child welfare clinical skills, but will start future workers on a path to continuing professional development across their future careers," explained Jackie Puckett, Director of the Limestone Social Work Program.

The certification classes will be offered beginning this spring. Puckett has chosen his initial DSS Education Consortium team members from faculty who are already on board with the program. Those members include Professor Mary Beth Harllee (Florence), Professor Chuck Kuhn (Columbia), and Professor Tim Hanshaw (Gaffney).