Fresno State’s social work program has been awarded a $5.25 million state grant to help meet the Central Valley’s behavioral health needs.
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information awarded the grant to the Master of Social Work program at Fresno State.
The big picture: Fresno State’s social work program maintains 50 field sites through four counties in the Valley, providing service to diverse populations of over 70 ethnicities that speak 105 languages.
- Graduates go on to serve the poverty-stricken region that is considered historically underserved.
What they’re saying: Dr. Marcus Crawford, the principal investigator for the grant, said the award is a significant commitment to meeting behavioral health needs across the Central Valley.
- “The Central Valley has an acute shortage of qualified health care professionals, including social workers, and the MSW program will now have the resources to train an additional 75 highly skilled social workers,” Crawford said.
- Dr. Dheeshana Jayasundara, the co-principal investigator and professor who specialized in gender-based and domestic violence, said the grant elevates Fresno State’s programs nationally.
- “This award also provides resources to reinforce our commitment to excellence and community impact,” Jayasundara said.
