Northwestern Department of Social Work Selects 2025-26 CWPEP Recipient

November 18, 2025

James Fanning, a senior social work major from Enid, is the recipient of the Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program Stipend for 2025-2026.

ALVA, Okla. — Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Department of Social Work faculty has named the 2025-26 stipend recipient of the Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program (CWPEP).

James Fanning, a senior social work major from Enid, is the recipient for this academic year.

CWPEP provides funds for students who plan careers in child welfare services in Oklahoma. The stipends are awarded to full-time students majoring in social work and provide money toward educational expenses to participating students.

Students who receive the stipends complete educational internships in child welfare agencies within the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). Upon graduation, students are assured employment in the participating OKDHS programs.

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to help society's most vulnerable populations,” Fanning said.

CWPEP is a Title IV-E partnership between the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Council.

The University of Oklahoma manages the child welfare consortium with Northwestern along with East Central University and Oral Roberts University. Funding for the educational program is provided by Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, called the Child Welfare Training Program.

“The social work program is proud to administer the CWPEP program and play an essential role in securing and retaining quality social workers in the public child welfare system,” said Dr. Kylene Rehder, chair of the Northwestern Department of Social Work, professor of social work and CWPEP coordinator. “CWPEP at Northwestern has graduated 25 students, resulting in $202,000 awarded in educational assistance.”

For more information on Northwestern’s Department of Social Work, visit nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/social-work or contact Rehder at kdrehder@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8135.

-NW-

Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480