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Abstract
The 2004 CaliforniaMental Health Services Act requires large-scale system change in the public mental health system through a shift to recovery-oriented services for diverse populations. This article describes an innovative strategy for workforce recruitment and retention to create and sustain these systemic changes. The California Social Work Education Center Mental Health Program provides stipends to master's of social work students at 17 California universities. In return, students must work for 1 year postgraduation in community mental health practice. Results of a 5-year study show that stipend recipients closely mirror the diverse demographics of the state, and 94% have remained in community mental health practice. The article also discusses lessons learned and implications for social work education in California and other states.
Gwen Foster is director of the Mental Health Program and Meghan Brenna Morris and Sirojudin Sirojudin are doctoral candidates at the University of California, Berkeley.
The authors wish to acknowledge the generous contributions to the initial phases of the study and the development of this article by James Midgley, Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Dean Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare, and Anupama Jacob, doctoral student at University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare.
Notes
Gwen Foster is director of the Mental Health Program and Meghan Brenna Morris and Sirojudin Sirojudin are doctoral candidates at the University of California, Berkeley.
The authors wish to acknowledge the generous contributions to the initial phases of the study and the development of this article by James Midgley, Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Dean Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare, and Anupama Jacob, doctoral student at University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare.