Child Welfare Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Since its inception, the Child Welfare Student Loan Forgiveness Program has not been funded by the Illinois General Assembly. If funded in future years, this page will be expanded to contain more information about the program.

The Child Welfare Student Loan Forgiveness Program was created to attract capable and promising students to the child welfare profession, increase employment and retention of qualified individuals who are working toward receiving a bachelor's or master's degree in the field of social work or human services, and to provide opportunities to someone making a career change to enter the child welfare profession.

Under the program, qualified applicants who are enrolled full time (undergraduate or graduate level) in a social work program approved by the Council on Social Work Education leading to a bachelor's degree in social work, or in an accredited human services degree program, and who have declared an intent to work in child welfare at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or a contracting agency, may qualify for a forgivable loan to assist in payment for their education. For purposes of this program, a forgivable loan is one made through ISAC that was incurred while enrolled in one of these required programs.

Undergraduate applicants may be awarded a forgivable loan of up to $4,000 per academic year, while graduate applicants may be awarded up to $8,000 per academic year. Benefits of the program are limited to a maximum of two academic years.

In the event the work commitment is not fulfilled for at least the number of years for which the loan(s) was received, the loan must be repaid. An Application/Promissory Note will be made available once the program is funded.