RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project Stipend

The RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project is funded by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), and is a statewide initiative aimed at preparing MSW, MAS, and MSN students to support the growing workforce needs within communities impacted by substance use. The project aims to expand and retain the addictions workforce and provide recipients with hands-on training to bring meaningful contributions to the Addictions field.

Stipend Amount

$20,000 per academic year for full-time students.

About the Project

The RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project pays for courses related to certification for Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Addiction Science (MAS) students who are selected to participate. The stipends are provided as financial support during the training year to assist students with additional educational expenses.

MSW Trainee Selection and Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to MSW students who meet the following criteria:

Good academic standing in the foundation year and advanced year of MSW study.
Matched or agree to intern at practicum placements working directly alongside persons with a substance use disorder. Examples include residential rehab, outpatient facilities, detox centers, Federally Qualified Health Center, etc.
Not receiving funding support from other HCAI-administered training or scholarship programs.
Possess or have an interest and commitment to learning about substance use, treatment, interventions and care.
Agree to select the Adult Mental Health and Wellness or Children, Youth and Families track.
Agree to follow option ONE or TWO (detailed below) as well as register and complete the required courses to obtain CA CAADE Certification. Subject to change based on course availability.
Agree to take the California SUD Certification Exam (fees covered by USC).

For students applying for the RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project at USC, eligibility means students in:

First Year, Spring semester: Will receive the highest priority in the selection process.
Summer semester: Can apply but will receive lower priority until the school can evaluate whether the student will be able to complete training requirements on time.
Fall semester: Will receive the lowest priority, however, can submit a student interest form to be notified of eligibility in the following spring semester.

Required Courses

Courses in bold are outside of the required MSW curriculum

ADSC 501 Foundations in Addiction Science (4 Units)
SOWK 511 Critical Decision-Making in Integrative Social Work Practice (3 Units)
SOWK 523 Foundations of Integrative Social Work Practice (3 Units)
SOWK 617 Substance Related and Behavioral Addictive Disorders and Recovery (3 Units)
SOWK 651 Clinical Psychopharmacology for Social Workers (3 Units)
SOWK 691 Applied Learning in Practicum Education III (3 Units)
SOWK 693 Applied Learning in Practicum Education IV (3 Units)

Practicum Training Requirements

Second year (SOWK 691, SOWK 693) eligible practicum training sites include community-based agencies, hospitals, schools and correctional units that are approved by USC and licensed or certified by the Department of Health Care Services.

Additional Training Comments

Graduates are NOT required to provide post-graduate service as SUD providers, however, are highly encouraged to stay within the area of addiction.

For more information or specific eligibility questions, please contact Jennifer Parga, associate teaching professor and RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project coordinator.