CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health Program (PBH)

The CalSWEC PBH program is a funding initiative that aims to better prepare MSW (Master of Social Work) students to provide effective and evidence-based behavioral healthcare in publicly-funded programs and settings. The program also aims to train MSWs in proactively supporting the integration of behavioral healthcare services with and within other public services and systems, while enhancing their retention and development in public behavioral health programs and settings. As part of this program, ten MSW students are awarded a $25,000 yearly stipend. The CalSWEC PBH training program has a post-graduation service obligation. For more details about the post-graduation service obligation, please click on Student Eligibility and Requirements.

The stipends for full-time students (based on campus enrollment rules) are $25,000 per academic year:

Awardee will receive stipends in two disbursements:

• $12,500 in mid to late fall semester
• $12,500 in mid spring semester

Stipends for part-time students (based on campus enrollment rules) are $12,500 per academic year

Trainees will receive stipends in two disbursements:

• $6,250 in mid to late fall semester
• $6,250 in mid spring semester

II. Student Eligibility and Requirements

The CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health (PBH) is open to those who meet all eligibility requirements below:

• Are enrolled in our MSW program for academic year 2024-2025
• Entered their practicum training year of MSW study in good academic standing
• Matched/matching with a field practicum site for the awarded academic year in a publicly funded behavioral health care sites/programs
• Not receive funding support from any other California Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) administered training, stipend or scholarship program
• Interest in and commitment to learning about the issues, challenges and needs specific to behavioral health care practice in public service settings
• Linguistic and cultural competencies that align with the needs of underserved consumers in CA
• Demonstrated, strong, and sustained commitment to social work careers in CA’s public behavioral health care systems programs and settings

Student Requirements:

• Must complete their 2024-2025 field placement at an agency or organization that provides direct public behavioral health services to
• Must participate in ALL CalSWEC PBH orientation, meetings, events, training, and other academic and field placement activities during the awarded period
• Must participate in ongoing program evaluation as required by the Principal Investigator and CalsWEC
• Must be committed to providing behavioral health services in the State of California post-graduation
• Be complete all required general and behavioral health-focused courses as specified by the MSW and Behavioral Health Program 
• Complete the post-graduation service obligation. For each year of award, the awardee is required to complete the equivalent of 12 months of full-time service employment in a Master’s level position with eligible publicly funded behavioral health care service sites include community-based behavioral health care clinics and agencies, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, schools/districts, SELPAs, colleges, inpatient and outpatient health care sites AND child welfare, regional center, juvenile delinquency, court and adult corrections units with publicly funded behavioral health programs and services, etc.
• Upon graduation, must pursue LCSW licensure

 *NOTE: Paid employment or agency stipends/financial awards do not preclude your participation in the Behavioral Health 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. 

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

III. Application Process

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.

Access the CalSWEC PBH application

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 CalSWEC PBH, please contact Judy Vang, Program Coordinator at  tvang@csuchico.edu