The USC School of Social Work has partnered with the American Case Management Association (ACMA) and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to offer the first ACMA Social Work Fellowship, a post-graduate program that provides a deeper understanding of hospital social work and hands-on training in case management practice.

The $50,000 fellowship program is now accepting applications until March 26. One recipient will be selected to participate in the nine-month experiential learning opportunity that will offer hospital-based project work, multi-hospital exposure, research, professional membership in ACMA, a national conference speaking opportunity and a case management model comparative study.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for social workers wishing to develop case management expertise and is a logical extension of the case management certificate we offer at the USC School of Social Work," said Associate Professor Maryalice Jordan-Marsh, program director for the USC case management option.

The 2010 fellowship will be conducted at Cedars Sinai Medical Center under the direction of Sharon Mass, an adjunct professor in the USC School of Social Work health concentration and director of case management at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

"A fellowship partnership between a school of social work, a professional association and an academic medical center is a first for social work practice. I am honored and excited to be a part of this unique opportunity," said Mass.

ACMA's Chief Executive Officer L. Greg Cunningham said the program was established at the suggestion of members who determined that an investment needed to be made to position social work's credibility as a key role in hospital case management.

"This is one of the most exciting things we've done in the realm of education and will bring national recognition to the practice of social work in hospital case management," he said.

All applicants must have completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited school of social work and possess at least one year of prior hospital/health system experience either through a graduate program's field practicum or post-MSW.

The fellow will receive a stipend of $50,000 as compensation during the fellowship. In addition, ACMA will pay travel expenses related to site visits and conference attendance required by the fellowship.

The 2010 fellowship recipient will be announced after April 9. There is no fee to apply.

For more information on the fellowship, and for application instructions, visit: http://www.acmaweb.org/forms/ACMASWFellowAp.pdf