The USC School of Social Work has announced a partnership with the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare as part of an ongoing commitment to the recruitment and retention of a quality behavioral health workforce.

In an effort to strengthen the training infrastructure for behavioral health professionals, the National Council, which represents 1,950 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families, will inform its members of the school’s Virtual Academic Center, which offers an accredited Master of Social Work degree on the web (MSW@USC) available to students nationwide, with classes held virtually and internships in local agency settings. 

“We’re pleased to join forces with the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare to help address the shortage of mental health professionals in underserved areas,” Dean Marilyn Flynn said.

“The MSW@USC program takes social work education beyond what is currently offered at brick-and-mortar-universities. One of the key benefits is the ability to offer a prestigious educational opportunity that may be unavailable in some communities, coupled with local internships we select for students where they live and work,” she said. 

Individual MSW@USC classes are small, with approximately 12 students, who can experience live interaction with faculty, watch dramatized cases, enjoy recorded lectures enhanced by special effects and even participate in university events, virtually. The full campus support system for learning is open to those in the program, including libraries, disability services, tutoring and educational coaching, student organizations in the School of Social Work, and student advising. Students may choose a concentration in families and children; mental health; or community organization, planning and administration, as well as specialized coursework in military social work.

“The MSW@USC is an excellent example of the new opportunities being created by advanced computer and media technologies,” Linda Rosenberg, the council’s president and CEO, said. “Our workforce challenges are significant and demand creativity and ingenuity. The MSW@USC offers that with local access to a top-notch graduate education, helping our member institutions retain staff while they train.”

National Council members are also invited to join USC’s National Field Education Network, giving them the opportunity to help shape the next generation of social work leaders and facilitate social work education beyond Southern California.

As a field placement site, National Council organizations provide an experienced social worker to supervise students as they take part in hands-on learning experiences relevant to their emerging skills. To graduate, MSW@USC students must complete two different field internships in nearby social service agencies, government entities, schools, hospitals or businesses. Among the benefits for partner institutions is access to high-quality MSW students and graduates to augment their services.

Since the MSW@USC launched in fall 2010, more than 720 students have enrolled from 38 states.