The Department of Social Work and Social Ecology has been actively involved in implementation of the Mental Health Services Act (aka Proposition 63) for its students.
As of the 2005/2006 academic year, the program began to offer qualifying students a stipend award in the amount of $18,500.00.
With the passage of Proposition 63, the local county mental health departments made a renewed commitment to develop a "professionally trained, culturally competent social work workforce that will meet the needs of the public mental health system in California." Certain key student competencies were developed that identified skills necessary for future practitioners in entering into public mental health services.
This program is coordinated under CalSWEC II (California Social Work Education Center). Each of the graduate programs is responsible for designing and implementing a curriculum that in part focuses on evidenced-based practice and the recovery model.
Close partnerships with community-based agencies are emphasized as a way of collaborating and promoting mental health practice.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the proposition award, students must be enrolled as a full-time student and entering into the final year (2nd) of the MSW program. Further, they must be either a U.S. citizen or have a work visa allowing them to meet the work commitment upon graduation. Students must also have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance, and they must successfully complete a background check through the University.
Academic and field program
The focus of the Proposition 63 program is on developing competent practitioners working directly with consumers. Consequently the majority of students will be declaring a clinical concentration. Students who can demonstrate a detailed work history indicating adequate experience in the field of county mental health services may have the option of declaring either a policy or clinical concentration.
While in the MSW Program, all Proposition 63 students are required to take selective classes specific to the area of mental health services. They will also be enrolled in their final year in a seminar class specific to mental health services.
In the first year of field placement, students have the option of working in either a mental health or non-mental health agency (school, hospital). However, in the second year of practicum, students will be placed in a county mental health agency.
Upon graduation, the student will work in a county mental agency for a period of time equal to the period for which he/she received financial support (one year).
For further information about this stipend program, please contact Terrence Forrester, LCSW, Program Coordinator, at (909) 558-7144 or email.
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Last Revised: Fri, Feb 09, 2007