Behavioral Health Expansion Program (BHEP)

I. Overview

The BHEP is funded through the Social Work Education Capacity Expansion (SWECE) grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to recruit, train, and place social workers to meet the behavioral health needs of the Northern California Superior Region (PDF) across four academic years (Fall 2023 – Spring 2027). The BHEP provides twelve incoming MSW students for the 2024-2025 academic year and/or are recipients of the BHEP award for the 2023-2024 academic year a $10,000 financial stipend for the awarded academic year and does not have a post-graduation service obligation. 

 Awardee will receive stipends in two disbursements:

• $5,000 at the beginning of the fall semester
• $5,000 at the beginning of the spring semester

II. Student Eligibility and Requirements

• Are incoming MSW students for the 2024-2025 school year and/or are recipients of the BHEP award from the 2023-2024 academic year*
• Entered their practicum training year of MSW study in good academic standing
• Represent historically underserved communities in one of the 18 Northern California Superior Region (PDF) counties: Del Norte, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, and Yuba
• Are committed to providing behavioral health services to children, youth through the age of 25, and their families/caregivers, and/or are students who have utilized behavioral health services in under-resourced and underserved communities in Northern California

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

• Must complete their 2024-2025 field placement at an agency or organization that provides direct behavioral health services to children, youth, families, and young adults through the age of 25 in under-resourced and underserved communities in one of the 18 Northern California Superior Region (PDF) counties
• Must participate in ALLBHEP orientation, meetings, events, training, and other academic and field placement activities during the awarded period
• Must participate in ongoing MSW BHEP program evaluation as required by the Principal Investigator

Must be committed to providing behavioral health services in the service region (PDF) post-graduation

III. Application Process

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. 

1. MSW BHEP application
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  April 15, 2024 at 5 p.m.. 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. 

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