Mental Health Training Program (MHTP)

Overview

"…provide a unique opportunity to fundamentally transform how mental health care is conceptualized and delivered in California. This transformation will include a move toward a state-of-the-art culturally competent system that promotes recovery/wellness through independence, hope, personal empowerment, and resiliency for adults and seniors with severe mental health illness and for children with serious emotional disorders and their families". (CalSWEC II, Mental Health Initiative)

The current initiative provides a training stipend of $18,500 per year for second-year graduate level social work students who are selected into the Mental Health Training Program. Please note that program requirements may vary as contractual obligations are negotiated from year to year.

Eligibility Criteria - Academic Year 2008 - 2009

• Final Year Student admitted into the two-year MSW program who will be completing their MSW II - Advanced Field Practicum in AY 2008-2009 and who will graduate in Spring 2009.
• Students employed in public or private agencies must be on full-time leave from those agencies to receive a stipend.
• Student should be in good academic standing in the MSW program
• Student should demonstrate an interest in and commitment to mental health services as described in the Mental Health Services Act.
• Student is placed for their second-year advanced field practicum in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency.
• Student agrees to payback obligation of one (1) year full-time, 40 hours per week, continuous employment in a California county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency, immediately upon graduation.
• Student agrees to complete and pass required criminal background screening procedures as required by county mental health regulations.
• Student agrees to attest that they never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime that would disqualify them from service in a county public mental health agency, or a community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency.
• Priority will be given to applicants who reflect the diverse client populations currently served by mental health agencies in California.
• Priority will be given to applicants who possess second language capabilities.

*Additional criteria may apply as contractual obligations between the School of Social Work and CalSWEC are further defined.

Advanced Field Practicum Selection Criteria

• County public mental health agency.
• Community-based organization under contract to a county public mental health agency. If the student is placed in a county contract agency, he/she must intern in the program/unit with which the agency has the contract.
• Agency setting must be providing treatment and/or services to individuals on a voluntary basis. State hospitals, prisons, etc. who are providing services to individuals on an involuntary status are not eligible as MSW II advanced field placement sites for 08/09.

Curriculum Requirements

• Social Work Mental Health Policy (SW 702)
• Psychopathology - Elective (SW 720)
• Persistently Mentally Ill - Elective (SW 781)
• Mental Health Seminars / Training Workshops as scheduled by the MHTP Coordinator

Application Process

The MHTP Application may be accessed online and/or from Anne Evosevich, MHTP Program Assistant, SDSU Social Work Main Office - HH-119. All written applications will be evaluated and oral interviews will be scheduled for those students whose written applications are judged excellent. There are fifteen stipends available. All stipend awardees must be in good academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA) and must be able to pass a criminal background screening by the summer preceding the fall semester.

If awarded a stipend, students may be required to attend a MHTP Orientation, prior to the beginning of the fall semester. All students awarded a MHTP stipend will be required to sign and meet the terms of the CalSWEC - SDSU SSW contract.

The MHTP Application Process usually parallels the MSW II Advanced Field Placement Planning timeline process, beginning in the spring semester. Please note application due dates and deadlines for eligibility.

Additional Information

Candy Elson, MSW, LCSW MHTP Project Coordinator Office: Hepner Hall 114C Phone: 619-594-5144 Email: celson@projects.sdsu.edu

Anne Evosevich MHTP Program Assistant Office: Hepner Hall 119 Phone: 619-594-5197 Email: aevosevich@projects.sdsu.edu

  last updated: 11/27/07