CSWE Minority Fellowship Program Master s Students Introduction Thank you for considering the Council on Social Work Education s (CSWE s) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) for social work master s students. Below you will find application instructions. Please read the instructions carefully before completing the application in the FluidReview system. The Fellowship is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program is designed to enhance the training of full-time, master s-level, direct practice-focused social work students in their final year of study at a CSWE-accredited institution. Applicants must identify mental health and/or substance use disorder service delivery to racial/ethnic minority populations as their focus, and be committed to seeking employment in this field after graduation. Historically, the MFP master s fellowship has also required that fellows specifically work with children, adolescents, and/or transition-aged youths. While this is still a target population for applicants to serve, it is no longer a requirement. The purpose of the program is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health-care outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master s-level behavioral health professionals available to serve racial/ethnic minority populations. If you then have questions regarding troubleshooting within the FluidReview application system, please contact support@fluidreview.com. If you have any questions about the application requirements, contact mfpy@cswe.org. Applications must be submitted in the FluidReview system by May 23, 2018, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Late applications, or components of applications, will NOT be accepted. Eligibility Requirements an advanced (final year or advanced standing), direct practice-focused, master s level student committed to providing mental health and/or substance use disorder services to racial/ethnic minority populations; enrolled in a CSWE-accredited master s program full-time (per the program s standards); an American citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident (international students, DACA students, and work visa holders are not eligible to apply); in an appropriate internship/placement setting providing mental health and/or substance use disorder services to racial/ethnic minority populations (must provide documentation from the program); and have completed or will complete at least two advanced master s of social work courses in one or both of following categories: (a) mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery; (b) culturally competent evidence-based practices. This fellowship cannot be held concurrently with other federally sponsored fellowships or awards (federal loans excluded). Supplementation of the fellowship award from non-federal funds is permitted. This fellowship is targeted to but not limited to minority ethnic/racial groups. Page 1 of 8
General Selection Criteria and Competitiveness Commitment to a career in mental health and/or substance use disorder services or prevention with the racial/ethnic minority populations; knowledge of/experience with underserved racial/ethnic minority individuals or communities; and potential as a future social work practitioner with a focus on mental health and/or substance use disorder prevention or treatment with racial/ethnic minority populations. In addition to the above applicant selection criteria, selection competitiveness is increased by the following factors that change each application cycle: Number of applications (average range 100-125) Number of new fellowship openings (typically 40) Strength of individual applicants Review Process 1) After application deadline, all applications are reviewed by MFP staff to verify eligibility and completeness. Verified applications are assigned to MFP Master s Review Committee members for review in summer 2018. 2) Notification of selection decisions are sent out via e-mail by fall 2018. All applicants with complete application packages will be notified of their status. Please be advised that a notification of selection for a fellowship opening does not guarantee a fellowship award. All fellowship awards are subject to the program s receipt of sufficient funding from SAMHSA. Individuals selected by the MFP Master s Review Committee will be awarded as soon as MFP receives the SAMHSA Notice of Award and determines the total number of fellowships that can be awarded. Instructions for Applicants 1) ACESSING FLUID REVIEW Go to www.cswe.fluidreview.com. If this is your first time accessing the system, click Sign Up. Page 2 of 8
2) REGISTERING Fill out your information (photo not required) and click Register. You will receive an email shortly after to confirm the registration. Click on the link in the email to activate your account. 3) CONFIRMING ELIGIBILITY Click on the link in your email to be directed to the CSWE Awards home page. Before applying, you must fill out the CSWE Eligibility Requirements. Click Start under Actions. Under Which application are you interested in applying for? select MFP Master s Fellowship and click Next. Fill out the Eligibility Requirements and click Save and Exit. If you do not meet one or more of the items, you are not eligible for this specific fellowship. Note: This fellowship cannot be held concurrently with other federally sponsored fellowships or awards (federal loans excluded). Supplementation of the fellowship award from non- Page 3 of 8
federal funds is permitted. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that they are not in receipt of multiple federally-sponsored awards. If you are unsure of the origin of any funding you receive/will receive, contact the appropriate source to clarify. It is particularly important to confirm the origin of funding if you receive/will receive funding from your master's university. 4) VIEWING AWARD OPPORTUNITIES Next, click View awards. Check the box next to Master s Minority Fellowship Program and click Apply Now. Page 4 of 8
5) STARTING YOUR APPLICATION (SECTIONS 1-10) On the next page, click Start to begin each required piece of the application process. Fill out each piece in its entirety. All application materials must be submitted in English. Once each piece is complete, click Save and Exit at the bottom of each page to be taken to your application home screen and continue to the next step. Save and Continue will keep you on the current page. 6) GETTING A RECOMMENDATION Once Sections 1-10 are completed, you will be on the Get a Recommendation step. Here, enter your recommender s name, email, and your relationship. A recommendation is required from one professor, program director, or field director who is familiar with your academic ability, experiences, and commitment to social work with regard to mental health and/or substance use disorder direct practice with racial/ethnic minority populations. Once you Submit the request to your recommender, they will receive an email with a link and instructions. Simply click "Back" at bottom page to return to your application home screen and continue to the next step. You should also contact your recommender to alert them a request is coming via email. If they need assistance navigating the FluidReview system, similar instructions have been posted to the Resources page for Recommenders. Please provide them with this document to assist them in the process. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your recommender submit their recommendations before the deadline. The deadline for the recommender is May 22, 2018 at 11:59 pm (24 hours before the due date of the full application), to give you time to finalize and submit your application package once recommendations are complete. You will not be able to submit your complete application until your recommender has submitted their recommendation. Even if all other portions of your application are complete, the application deadline will not be extended if your recommendation is incomplete. Therefore, please provide your recommender with ample time to complete their recommendations, and remind them in advance of the deadline, if necessary. 7) FIELD PLACEMENT VERIFICATION For this step, you will indicate your Field Director s name and email. The Field Director is the person affiliated with your academic institution. Even if you do not have set field placement for the 2018 2019 academic year, your Field Director must include a statement that you will be placed in an appropriate setting. Page 5 of 8
Once you Submit the request to your Field Director, they will receive an email with a link and instructions. Simply click "Back" at bottom page to return to your application home screen and continue to the next step. We also highly recommend that you contact your Field Director to alert them a request is coming via email. If they need assistance navigating the FluidReview system, similar instructions have been posted to the Resources page for Field Directors. Please provide them with this document to assist them in the process. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your Field Director submits their verification form before the deadline. The deadline for the Field Director is May 22, 2018 at 11:59 pm (24 hours before the due date of the full application), to give you time to finalize and submit your application package once recommendations are complete. You will not be able to submit your complete application until your Field Director has submitted their verification form. Even if all other portions of your application are complete, the application deadline will not be extended if your Field Placement Verification Form is incomplete. Therefore, please provide your Field Director with ample time to complete their form, and remind them in advance of the deadline, if necessary. 8) ESSAY We highly recommend that you type your essay in Microsoft Word or a similar program first, and then paste into the box provided in the FluidReview system (word limit = 1,500). There is not an option to upload a separate document. After pasting in your essay, click Save & Exit. 9) OFFICIAL UNDERGRADUATE TRANSCRIPT It is the applicant s responsibility to upload a PDF of their official undergraduate transcript. As the applicant, you can open the envelope of your official transcript, scan it, and upload it as a PDF attachment to the FluidReview system. Alternatively, you may request that your school email you an electronic copy of your official transcript directly. Then, save it as a PDF (either directly from the electronic file, or by printing and scanning a clear, color version to PDF) and upload it as an attachment to the FluidReview system. Do NOT send transcripts directly to CSWE. NOTE: If you received your undergraduate degree from the same school in which you are working toward your social work master's degree, and that information is combined into one transcript, you must upload that transcript twice: once for Undergraduate Transcript, and once for Master s Transcript. One you upload the file, it will appear as a preview on your screen. Simply click Back at the top of your screen to return to your application home screen and continue to the next step. Page 6 of 8
10) OFFICIAL SOCIAL WORK MASTER S TRANSCRIPT/OFFICIAL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE In Section 3, you will be asked about your Enrollment Status. Based upon your response, you will be provided with a place to upload either your Official Social Work Master s Transcript or your Official Letter of Acceptance. If you are currently enrolled as a social work master s student, upload your Official Social Work Master s Transcript. Applicants can open the envelope of their official transcript, scan it, and upload it as a PDF attachment to the FluidReview system. Or, you may request that your school email you an electronic copy of your official transcript directly. You may then save it as a PDF and upload it as an attachment to the FluidReview system. Do NOT send transcripts directly to CSWE. NOTE: If you received your undergraduate degree from the same school in which you are working toward your social work master's degree, and that information is combined into one transcript, you must upload that transcript twice: once for Undergraduate Transcript, and once for Master s Transcript. If you are an incoming, advanced standing student for the 2018-2019 academic year and do not yet have access to your official transcript, you must upload your official Letter of Acceptance into your program. However, if awarded the fellowship, you will be expected to provide a copy of your official master's transcript as soon as possible. One you upload the file, it will appear as a preview on your screen. Simply click Back at the top of your screen to return to your application home screen and continue to the next step. 11) RESUME Applicants must submit a resume. Once you upload the file, it will appear as a preview on your screen. Simply click Back at the top of your screen to return to your application home screen and continue to the next step. 12) PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD If you are a permanent resident, you must provide a PDF copy of your Permanent Resident Card (INS Form I-551). The copy must be signed and notarized by a notary public. If you are an American citizen or noncitizen national, you may skip this step, as no upload is necessary. 13) SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION Once each part of your application is complete, you will be able to click on the green Submit button. NOTE: Even if you have completed all your sections, you will not be able to press the final Submit button if your Recommendation and/or Field Placement Verification Form is still Pending. It is your responsibility to monitor your account and remind your recommender and/or Field Director as needed to ensure that their tasks have been completed before the deadline. Ensure you provide both your Recommender and your Field Director ample time to submit their task. You will not be able to see their submissions, but the system notes when they are completed. Page 7 of 8
You will be directed to a final submission page. Please be advised that you will no longer be able to make changes after you click Continue to finalize your submission. You will land on a confirmation page that your submission is complete. Your fellowship application is complete! Applications will be reviewed by the MFP Master s Review Committee after the application deadline. Notification of fellowship decisions will be sent via e-mail by fall 2018. Please be advised that a notification of selection for a fellowship opening is not a fellowship award. All fellowship awards are subject to the program s receipt of sufficient funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Individuals selected for a fellowship opening will be updated as soon as MFP receives the SAMHSA Notice of Award and determines the total number of fellowships that can be awarded. Applications must be submitted in the FluidReview system by May 23, 2018, at 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications, or components of applications, will NOT be accepted. Page 8 of 8