New Initiative Launched to Bolster North Carolina’s Social Work Workforce
A new collaborative effort is underway in North Carolina to address the shortage of social workers across the state, especially in rural areas. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services, along with the University of North Carolina System and the Social Work Coalition on NC Workforce Development, hosted a kickoff event to launch the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP). This initiative aligns with a recent report from the Sheps Center for Health Services Research and NCDHHS that highlights this critical deficiency.
The PSLP aims to engage high schools, community colleges, and universities to inspire students to pursue careers in social work. NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai joined officials from the UNC system, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Social Work Coalition to formalize this partnership. Secretary Sangvai emphasized the urgent need for social workers, stating, “The need for social workers is expected to grow over the next few years. Meeting this demand is one of our top priorities, and this exciting and innovative partnership will examine these challenges and help us create a system of care that makes services available when and where they are needed.”
The Coalition encompasses 25 institutions, including 14 UNC system schools, all offering programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Social Work will lead the coalition. UNC System President Peter Hans remarked on the initiative’s significance, noting, “Our public universities have a long history of stepping up to meet North Carolina’s most pressing needs, and this extraordinary investment in social work is very much in keeping with that proud tradition of service.”
Currently, North Carolina has 9,830 licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), averaging 8.95 LCSWs per 10,000 residents. However, the distribution is uneven, with urban areas having twice the number of LCSWs compared to rural areas. A significant portion, less than half, are credentialed for public mental health and substance use systems.
Director of NCDHHS’s Division of Mental Health, Kelly Crosbie, highlighted the pivotal role of social workers: “Social workers are the backbone of a strong community health system. They do more than manage caseloads. Social workers operate across multiple levels of intervention, from providing mental health therapy and care management services directly to clients to policy development and community organizing. They advocate for our most marginalized populations, and their work often leads to significant social change.”
Over the next five years, the PSLP will undergo a phased implementation, beginning with a year of planning, followed by a pilot and a three-year testing period. UNC’s Office of Community Engagement and Outreach will oversee the program’s rollout, with student applications opening in the spring.
Ramona Denby-Brinson, dean of UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work, encapsulated the program’s goals: “The Public Service Leadership Program is more than an investment — it is a commitment to North Carolina’s future. Together with 25 colleges and universities and our partners, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, we are cultivating the next generation of social workers, strengthening resilience across the workforce and ensuring that every community in our 100 counties has access to the care and support it deserves.”
A video overview of the PSLP partnership is available here.
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