For Immediate Release
Aug. 13, 2019
Media Contact
Darren DeLaune
O:(918) 732-7617
ddelaune@muscogeenation.com
Muscogee (Creek) Nation partners with University of Oklahoma for social work grant
TULSA, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and University of Oklahoma partnered for a grant that would provide stipends to students to earn their Bachelor or Master of Social Work degree.
The application for the grant has been funded and five students were selected for the Workforce Excellence Initiative-University Partnership stipends. Of those five, four are Muscogee (Creek) citizens. Two are College of Muscogee Nation graduates and two work for the MCN Children and Family Services Administration (CFSA).
The recipients were honored with a ‘Signing Day,’ on Aug. 8 surrounded by their families and friends.
Clinical Assistant Professor at OU-Tulsa School of Social Work, Dallas Pettigrew was ecstatic to hear about receiving the funding.
“We won this award on the strength of our relationships,” he said.
Pettigrew said that the relationship between OU and CMN goes back a few years when there were talks on how to get students to transition to a four-year school after leaving CMN.
“We started working together a couple of years ago and we managed to make it workout,” he said.
He also spoke about working with CFSA’s Director Kimee Wind-Hummingbird.
“She wanted to get more people, especially citizens working in social work,” Pettigrew said.
Hummingbird said the intent behind the proposal was to enhance our current workforce and allow for future CFSA employees to receive a Bachelor of Social Work with generous stipends.
“Not only does this grant assist students with the cost of their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from OU-Tulsa, it provides workforce development opportunities with CFSA,” she said.
Pettigrew believes this is only the beginning of having this for the OU, CMN and MCN.
“This is only the beginning,” he said. “We plan on applying for the funding again and we hope to get that.”
Upon graduation, the recipients would be required to work at either CFSA or another child welfare program.
“For the same number of years they were in school, they will work for the tribe,” Pettigrew said.
For more information about CFSA, call: 918-732-7869 or visit the CFSA page: //www.muscogeenation.com/services/children-family-services-administration/.
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