Case launches 50% scholarship program for FrontLine Staff

This fall, five FrontLine Service staff will attend Case Western Reserve University (Case) Weekend Program with up to 50% reduced tuition towards earning their master's degree in social work at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.  

The FrontLine Service Scholars program, a partnership between FrontLine and Case, was designed to address a disparity: FrontLine Service leadership fails to reflect the diversity of the broader staff and those we serve. As of August 2022, 60% of FrontLine staff are Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), while only 40% of managers and 20% of directors are BIPOC. 

The idea for the program came from FrontLine’s employee-led Norms & Culture Anti-Racism Committee, which recognized that one of the biggest barriers for employees of color to enter leadership positions is the requirement of a master's degree.  

Leadership at FrontLine and Case quickly embraced the opportunity to rectify this inequality — one that is prevalent throughout the social work sector. Talks between FrontLine Service and Case Western Reserve University started in 2022 and within a year of introducing the idea, the program was ready to launch. 

The program is open to all full-time FrontLine staff. Case contributes up to 10 scholarships per year for 50% reduced tuition, waives the application fee, and provides a world-class education that ranks in the top 10 social work programs in the nation. FrontLine provides an additional $6,000 tuition reimbursement for the two-year program, as well as mentorship and opportunities for clinical supervision. Upon graduation, program participants will be identified at the ceremony as FrontLine Service Scholars.  

Dexter Voisin, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Dean in Applied Social Sciences, recognized FrontLine’s leadership in the community and the importance of this initiative to reduce the inequity of diverse leadership in the social work sectors. 

“Lack of diverse leadership within the profession has been discussed for decades, and I really see FrontLine as being a leader moving from problem identification to solution-focused by advancing this partnership,” Dexter said.  

Meredith Black, Director of Human Resources at FrontLine Service, said the agency immediately supported the opportunity to provide professional development, elevate services in our community, and take steps toward diversifying FrontLine’s leadership. “If you’re interested in working long-term in the field of social work and want to become a community leader in this field, earning a master's degree in social work is a huge step forward,” she said. 

In May, Dexter, along with FrontLine staff LaTonya Murray, Chief Equity & Quality Officer, and Marlon Johnson, Co-Chair of the Norms & Culture Anti-Racism Committee, presented about the FrontLine Service Scholars program at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s annual meeting. They hoped to inspire universities and social service agencies throughout the country to develop similar partnerships.