Maine Perspective Front Page
School of Social Work Offers Tribal Health and Human Services Traineeships
Native American undergraduate students with an interest in tribal health and human services are encouraged to apply for one of seven traineeships being offered by the School of Social Work.
The school recently received a $145,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families. Students who qualify for the traineeships would be given a yearly stipend of $7,500 and will receive the University of Maine System Indian Tuition Waiver.
"We're in the process of recruiting students for this program," says Gail Werrbach, School of Social Work director. "We're looking for Native American students who have completed at least 24 credit hours as undergraduates and are interested in social work with Native American children and families."
The focus of the project, says Werrbach, is to provide culturally sensitive, competency-based education for students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and creatively address the serious challenges confronting the state's tribes.
Werrbach says the students would perform a wide variety of tasks with the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Micmac and Maliseet. Students would complete internships at both on- and off-reservation tribal health and human services agencies. The existing Bachelor of Social Work program will be expanded to provide trainees with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide excellence in tribal child welfare services in the state.
Services provided by student participants would include family preservation programs to help keep children with their families on reservations; healthcare work with mentally challenged or substance abuse patients; or educational programs in the native schools to teach children self-worth and cultural understanding.
"Our primary purpose is to increase the number of Native American social workers. These students have first-hand understanding of Native culture, traditions and often language," says Werrbach. "After graduation, our hope is that students will return to Native communities to work with kids and families."
Traineeships are being offered in collaboration with the Wabanaki Center and the Native American Studies Program.
The School of Social Work began accepting applications Dec. 1 and will accept applications until all seven traineeships have been filled. The program could start as early as January.