How to Apply

The Workforce for Student Well-being Employment Scholarship application portal is open.

The Workforce for Student Well-being (WSW) Initiative is a career opportunity providing up to $30,000 based on unmet need for students committed to working in high-need K-12 public and tribal schools in Washington.

The scholarship is given on condition of employment in a high-need school district in Washington state following graduation.

To apply for a Workforce for Student Well-being Initiative (WSW) scholarship, graduate students must be affiliated with one of Washington state’s five accredited master’s degree programs. Scholarship applicants are selected by their individual universities.

Read below to learn more.

Application Timeline

Eligibility Criteria

• Demonstrated financial need as indicated by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)^Ⓡ or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) for current academic year. If you are not eligible to apply for FAFSA^Ⓡ/WASFA (e.g., international student), please contact your education program’s Workforce for Student Well-being administrator.
• Enrolled in a master’s level social work program at a partnering institute of higher education (IHE).
• Ability to obtain employment post-graduation at an eligible high-need K-12 public or tribal school in Washington state.
• Ability to maintain legal residency in Washington state for  at least 2 academic years post-graduation.

Application Process

1. Apply for student financial aid through FAFSA^Ⓡ/ WASFA by your school’s deadline.
2. Complete the online Workforce for Student Well-being (WSW) Initiative application by your program’s deadline. The application takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and must be completed in one session. When the application period is open, the 2-year employment application can be found at the top of this page.
3. Reply to a selection notification email by the acceptance deadline.

Selection

Each partnering university selects which of its student applicants are awarded a Workforce for Student Well-being (WSW) conditional scholarship. Selection determinations are made holistically and include review of the following characteristics of the student: commitment to school mental health, experience with and commitment to working with diverse communities, financial need, and post-graduation employment goals. Universities might independently consider academic strength/GPA and/or a letter of recommendation.

This education and career opportunity is competitive and applicants are notified of selection by email. In accepting the conditional scholarship, students will sign an agreement outlining the scholarship commitments and responsibilities. Upon acceptance, students will become a participant in the WSW community of practice.

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What to expect as a conditional scholarship student

For students enrolled in the last year of their MSW program, the WSW conditional scholarship program offers up to $30,000 based on unmet financial need.

Conditional scholarships funds are distributed each academic term (quarter or semester) during the last year of the WSW conditional scholarship awardees’ academic year.

Conditional scholarship students participate in a variety of professional development activities during their graduate education to prepare them as the next generation of school social workers in Washington state. Students will receive 30-hours of community of practice experience  with peers. In addition to completing the requirements of their MSW program, students are expected to maintain good academic standing.

Following graduation, conditional scholarship students are expected to work in a high-need K-12 public or tribal school within Washington state for two academic years.