North Carolina is casting a wider net in hopes of strengthening its social work sector, through a new partnership between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and a coalition of 25 universities and colleges. This Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP) is setting out to rejuvenate the pipeline of future social workers while enhancing the capabilities of current ones over the next five years.
Amid rising demand in the social work field, North Carolina officials are recognizing the existing challenges such as, low salaries and tough working conditions that hinder support for these vital workers. The NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai highlighted the importance of equipping students with training and awareness to pursue social work careers. "This program will work with high schools and universities to strengthen the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in social work by making them aware of these opportunities and providing training," Sangvai stated, underscoring the program's proactive approach to workforce development.
The pioneering five-year plan is set to commence with a one-year blueprint outline, followed by a pilot, and then a comprehensive three-year testing phase. Spearheading the coalition is the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, appointed to administratively manage PSLP's roll-out under the guidance of Associate Dean Kathy Colville and her Office of Community Engagement and Outreach. Prospective students can shoot their shot at the program come March 2026, with NCDHHS slated to release more details as the application window approaches.
Ramona Denby-Brinson, Dean of the UNC School of Social Work, expressed the collective enthusiasm and recognized the professional and empathetic qualities that social workers inject into the healthcare system. "The people of North Carolina deserve a health and human services workforce that is not only highly skilled, but also compassionate and responsive to the diverse needs of our communities. Social workers are at the forefront of this effort; the PSLP is poised to transform how we prepare social workers to lead and serve across the state," Denby-Brison praised, highlighting the program's commitment to community-centric services. Meanwhile, Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW from NCDHHS emphasized the unique capabilities social workers bring to the table and how this initiative will prepare them to handle the convoluted needs of the state's communities.
The focal points of the PSLP include ramping up interest in social work careers at educational institutions across North Carolina, enriching the educational journey of social work students with essential skills tailor-made to meet the intricate needs of families and communities, particularly in rural areas, and building resilience in the existing workforce. Sarah Reives Houston, the interim assistant dean of workforce development at UNC's School of Social Work, remarked on the expected 12% growth in the social work profession over the next six years, stressing the PSLP will ensure that the pipeline is primed to meet this uptick in demand, "Not only will it encourage the next generation of social workers to enter the field, but it’s also going to take care of the state’s current social workers and ensure they have the tools to support their communities," Houston conveyed in a statement recognized by the NCDHHS' official press release.
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