Post-Graduation Service Obligation

In addition to training year activities, PBH Trainees must commit to:

• Providing updated contact information to SJSU at MSW graduation
• Completing annual follow-up surveys as requested and on time for up to seven years after MSW graduation
• Pursuing and documenting pursuit of LCSW licensure, including registering as an ASW, seeking a position in which supervision hours can be accrued, and working toward eligibility for the ASWB Clinical Exam
• Completing the post-graduation service obligation within 36 months of MSW graduation

For each year of training participation, PBH graduates must complete the equivalent of 12 months of full time service within the state of California

• PBH graduates must begin searching for an eligible service position within 6 months of MSW graduation
• PBH graduates must begin service within 12 months of MSW graduation
• PBH graduates must complete required service (either 12 or 24 months depending on years of training) within 36 months of MSW graduation
• PBH service can be either paid employment or volunteer work
• PBH service can be completed on a full time or part time basis, but must involve working a minimum average of 20 hours per week each month
• Full time employment is defined by the employer and may be defined as 32, 35, 37.5 or 40 hours per week depending on the employer

Examples of eligible service employment sites include county behavioral health agencies, community-based behavioral health care clinics and organizations,  inpatient and IOP psychiatric and SUD treatment programs, K-12 schools, school districts, SELPAs, colleges, inpatient and outpatient hospital and other health care settings AND behavioral health programs and services housed in other public systems, including  public child welfare departments, regional centers, juvenile delinquency systems, court systems, and adult corrections settings.

• Behavioral health positions in these settings may involve many different types of service provision (traditional therapy, crisis response, universal screening and referrals to treatment, etc)

PBH service employment sites must be BOTH (1) publicly funded to provide behavioral health care services AND (2) serve underserved areas, communities and/or populations (not either/or)

• Not just the agency or organization but the specific services the PBH graduate provides MUST be supported by public (Tribal, federal, state, regional, county, city or local) funding
• The specific services the PBH graduate provides MUST be intended and designed to serve underserved consumers and do so explicitly, NOT just incidentally
• Accepting Medi-Cal as insurance reimbursement does NOT qualify as receiving public funding but DOES demonstrate that the site serves underserved consumers

PBH service positions MUST be master’s level positions, meaning the job description and/or position classification must indicate that a master’s degree is required (or at minimum preferred) to be hired for the
position in question  

• PBH service positions must involve the graduate providing behavioral health care services (direct services) to underserved communities, populations and/or areas within the state of California
• PBH service positions must be funded through public (Tribal, federal, state, regional, county, city or local) funding
• PBH service positions must enable the graduate to progress toward LCSW licensure through supervision of clinical work