"A community college English assignment to write a poem about herself inspired Celine Gomez to pursue a career in social work and help her community.

Now, Gomez, a graduate of the University of California, Davis, is realizing her ambition through a program to professionalize and add to the corps of social workers at public child welfare agencies in California that, as of July 1, had nearly 65,000 cases.

On July 1, UC Davis and UCLA began administering the California Title IV-E Education program, which provides professional education and financial support to undergraduate and graduate social work students to pursue or continue a career in public child welfare.

UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education was awarded a two-year, $52.4 million contract from the California Department of Social Services to provide workforce development and training for social workers."