Application Process

The Behavioral Health Expansion Program (BHEP) application for the 2024-2025 cohort will open on Monday, March 11, 2024 and will close at 5:00pm on April 15, 2024.  

The MSW BHEP $10,000 stipend is available to incoming  MSW students for the 2024-2025 academic year and/or are recipients of the BHEP award for the 2023-2024 academic year. * Though any incoming MSW student interested in the program could apply, students committed to engaging and providing behavioral health services to children, youth through the age of 25, and their families/caregivers, and/or students who have utilized behavioral health services in under-resourced and underserved communities in Northern California are especially encouraged to apply. 

The application will include the following:

1. MSW BHEP application: https://csuchico.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3lRh0bF3XOCImoK
2. Brief essay questions: In 300 words or less for each question, please answer the three questions below on one document. Please note that responses exceeding the 300-word limit will be automatically truncated/end at the  word limit. Ensure your response is concise and within the specified limit to facilitate effective communication. We ask that you copy and paste the prompts onto Microsoft Word, respond to each question individually, and check your response word count before uploading the document. Be very specific and clear in your response. 
   • What professional skills, experiences, and values have prepared you to work with children, youth, and families in the behavioral health system?
   • If you were given a million dollars, how would you use the fund to address the behavioral health needs within your community?
   • What do you see as one of the major issues facing children, youth, and families with behavioral health needs? As a social worker in the public behavioral health system, how would you address that issue? 
3. Current Resume
4. One recommendation letter from someone outside of the CSU, Chico School of Social Work, who can speak to your commitment to providing behavioral health services to children, youth, families, and young adults in under-resourced and/or underserved populations in underserved communities within the 18 Superior Region of Northern California (PDF). 
   • We ask that you copy/paste the link below to the recommender and ask them to submit the letter of recommendation electronically, deadline is 5:00 pm by April 15, 2024, https://csuchico.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hawLkLhkvK0whU
   • Recommenders will be asked to speak to the student's commitment to providing behavioral health services to children, youth, families, and young adults in under-resourced and/or underserved populations in underserved communities within the 18 counties of the Superior Region in Northern California (PDF).
     • Use the following questions as a guide: 
       • How long have you known the applicant, and under what circumstances have you become familiar with the applicant's interest in behavioral health services.
       • Please assess the applicant's ability to contribute to CSU, Chico MSW BHEP, and serve the behavioral health needs of children, youth, families, and young adults within the 18 counties of the Superior Region in Northern California.
       • Provide additional information that would contribute to the student's success as an MSW BHEP recipient.

The MSW Behavioral Health Program (BHP) admissions committee will ONLY review completed applications. 

Applications, including the letters of recommendation received after the due date will not be reviewed. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the recommendation letter is submitted by 5:00pm, April 15, 2024. Students will be notified of the status of their application within one week from the submission deadline.  Selected candidates will be tentatively interviewed during the weeks of April 22^nd and April 29^th. Students accepted into the MSW BHEP are required to sign an agreement contract, attend an orientation in August, and participate in ALL MSW BHEP meetings, including Zoom and in-person trainings on campus.

*NOTE: Paid employment or agency stipends/financial awards do not preclude your participation in this program. The exception are current Title IV-E participants, CalSWEC Adult Protective Services participants, and those receiving direct funding support from any other HCAI administered training, stipend or scholarship program. 

*Eligible BHEP students must represent an expansion of our current MSW program. 

The CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health (PBH) application for the 2024-2025 cohort is open. The California State University, Chico’s CalSWEC PBH applications will close on April 15, 2024.  

The CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health (PBH) is funded by the California Office of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) as part of a statewide behavioral health workforce development initiative. The central goals are:

• To better prepare MSW students to provide effective, evidence-based behavioral health care in publicly funded programs and settings
• To better prepare new MSWs to proactively support the integration of behavioral health care services with and within other public services and systems
• To enhance the retention and development of MSWs in California’s public behavioral health programs and settings

We hope to award 10 MSW students with a $25,000.00 stipend for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The CalSWEC PBH at the University of California, Berkeley will manage the application.

To access the CalSWEC PBH application link click here

The MSW Behavioral Health Program (BHP) admissions committee will ONLY review completed applications. 

Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed. Students will be notified of the status of their application within two weeks from the submission deadline.  Selected candidates will be tentatively interviewed during the weeks of April 22^nd and April 29^th.  Students accepted into the CalSWEC PBH program are required to sign a university agreement contract, along with any agreements from CalSWEC, attend an orientation in August, and participate in ALL MSW BHP meetings, including in-person trainings on campus.

*NOTE: Paid employment or agency stipends/financial awards do not preclude your participation in this program. The exception are current Title IV-E participants, CalSWEC Adult Protective Services Training Program participants, and those receiving direct funding support from any other HCAI administered training, stipend or scholarship program.

Contact: If you would like further information about MSW BHEP or CalSWEC PBH, please contact Judy Vang, Program Coordinator at  tvang@csuchico.edu