Establishes a master of social work paid field work pilot program to provide a stipend to students who are enrolled in a master of social work program for the first 450 hours of field work completed towards such masters' degree; requires the office of mental health to complete a report making recommendations on how to expand the pilot program to increase the number of social workers in the state, improve representation in the field of social work, mitigate student debt and improve labor conditions for social workers upon graduation.
Impact
The implementation of this bill is likely to have a notable impact on the state's mental health workforce by incentivizing students to pursue careers in social work. By making fieldwork financially viable, the program aims to increase the number of licensed social workers in New York. Furthermore, it addresses issues of representation within the profession, as the program will gather data to understand how demographics in social work can be improved. This focus on representation may enhance services in underserved communities across the state.
Summary
Bill S07894 aims to establish a pilot program that provides financial support to students enrolled in a master of social work program in New York. The program will offer stipends of $4,500 for the first 450 hours of required fieldwork, which is a significant component of their education. This initiative seeks to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with graduate education in social work, making it more accessible for aspiring professionals in the field. The stipends will be renewable annually until the student completes the requisite fieldwork or until the spring semester of 2029.
Contention
Despite its potential benefits, the bill has sparked discussions regarding its funding and the implications for existing financial aid structures. Critics worry that offering stipends might complicate the financial aid landscape, especially for students who may already be receiving grants or scholarships, thus necessitating a careful evaluation of how the stipends are distributed to avoid conflicts. Additionally, the program's success hinges on the state's commitment to annual appropriations, which raises questions about the sustainability of the initiative in the long term.
Authorizes the commissioner of mental health to establish up to three, three-year pilot programs in community behavioral health organizations for the purposes of creating social worker pilot programs to support the ongoing retention and recruitment of licensed clinical social workers.
Authorizes the commissioner of mental health to establish up to three, three-year pilot programs in community behavioral health organizations for the purposes of creating social worker pilot programs to support the ongoing retention and recruitment of licensed clinical social workers.
Authorizes licensed clinical social workers to provide services to injured employees under workers' compensation coverage; establishes special authorization shall be provided by the clinical social work practice committee.
Requires the department of education to report information regarding counselors, social workers and psychologists in schools and to implement a plan to increase the school counselor, school social worker and school psychologist to student ratio to nationally accepted standards and provide funding for such.
Requires the department of education to report information regarding counselors, social workers and psychologists in schools and to implement a plan to increase the school counselor, school social worker and school psychologist to student ratio to nationally accepted standards and provide funding for such.
Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.
Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.
Establishes a direct support professional worker registry of persons who have successfully completed a direct support professional worker education or training program approved by the commissioner of mental health.