Funded Practicum Education Programs

The ACCESS Program is a partnership among the UT School of Social Work, the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and the Texas Center for Disability Studies.

The CCK Scholars Program is a joint effort of CapCityKids (a nonprofit 501c3 organization), the Austin Independent School District (AISD), and the UT School of Social Work to provide preventative services to AISD students at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The program maintains a practicum unit within AISD with an internship coordinator and practicum instructor dedicated full-time to supervise CCK Scholars. Questions? https://www.capcitykids.org/learn-about-our-programs/

Earl Maxwell Scholars program funds MSSW students each year to be placed in agencies that don’t have a social worker on staff to serve as the practicum instructor. Students receive practicum instruction from the Faculty Program Director or an external social worker. Students can expect to gain generalist social work skills and experience in program development and interdisciplinary practice.  This program funds up to 10 MSSW students each year. This program is supported by the St. David’s Foundation.

• Focus: Social services 
• Who: MSSW students, typically 7 first practicum students and 3 final practicum students.  
• Funding: $10,000 award. The program offers ten awards each year. 
• Questions? Contact Starla Simmons, LCSW-S.

FIPS provides financial support for students who are selected for international practicum placements with the goal of making this experience accessible to a wider range of students. 

• Focus: International social work. 
• Who: MSSW students. 
• Requirements: Students apply for this award when they submit their applications for international practicum in August. Awards are granted based on presented financial need and offered with the international practicum, allowing awardees to factor the funding into their decision. Awards are granted at the beginning of the spring semester upon successful completion of the fall international preparatory seminar.
• Award: Up to $5,000 award to 2 MSSW students, based on financial need. 
• Questions? Contact Tanya Voss, MSSW.

The GRACE Program prepares students to work with older adults and is supported by the St. David’s Foundation. 

• Focus:  Workforce development in social work in aging. 
  
• Who: MSSW students. 
• Requirements: GRACE practicum placement, attend at least five GRACE educational events. 
• Funding:  Eligible for a $7,500 fellowship award based on application process. GRACE Candidates are offered the opportunity to apply for fellowship awards to help defray the cost of their education. The number of awards given each year depends on funding availability but may be as high as 20 per year, generally divided between students in first and final practicums. Students may complete both first and final practicums in GRACE settings and apply for funding each time. GRACE students may also apply for an all-expenses paid trip to the On Aging Conference, which occurs each spring. At commencement, students receive the designation of GRACE Scholar.
• Questions? Download a one-pager. Contact Joan Asseff, LCSW-S.

The Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars Program seeks to build a culturally responsive behavioral health workforce with expertise in delivering integrated behavioral health care, particularly to underserved populations in Texas. This interdisciplinary training program is administered through the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration as well as the UT School of Social Work.

• Focus: Interprofessional health education with a focus on substance use disorders in adolescents and transition-aged youth
• Who: One MSSW Advanced Practicum Clinical student.
• Requirements:  To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must complete approximately 50-60 hours of training in addition to an extended advanced practicum at an IBHS-Youth Substance Use eligible site.
• Funding: $25,000 award.
• Questions? Contact Anita Guajardo, LCSW-S.

The Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars Program seeks to build culturally responsive behavioral health workforce with expertise in delivering integrated behavioral health care, particularly to underserved populations in Texas. This interdisciplinary training program is administered through the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration as well as the UT School of Social Work.

• Focus: Interprofessional health education with a focus on children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth.
• Who: Depending on the year, either 5 or 6 MSSW Advanced Practicum Clinical students
• Requirements: To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must complete approximately 50-60 hours of training in addition to an extended advanced practicum placement at an IBHS-Youth & Family eligible site.
• Funding: $25,000 award.
• Questions? Contact Anita Guajardo, LCSW-S.

This program seeks to enhance educational opportunities for social workers in the area of play therapy. The program is funded through the Norma and Clay Leben Endowment for Excellence in Play Therapy Methods. 

• Focus: Play therapy methods. 
• Who:  MSSW Final Practicum Clinical students.
• Requirements: Full block practicum placement in setting that provides significant play therapy opportunities, attend three training events. Students are required to attend the following professional development events for free: Norma Leben Play Therapy Workshop, Texas School Social Work Conference, and Annual Leben Play Therapy Symposium.
• Funding: $2,500 award. 
• Questions? Contact Mary Beer, LCSW-S.

The program prepares social workers to provide culturally competent health and mental health services to Spanish-speaking clients in Central Texas. 

• Focus: Bilingual clinical social work. 
• Who: MSSW First and/or Final Practicum Clinical students.
• Requirements: Spanish and English fluency, practicum placement that requires bilingual skills. Applicants must be newly admitted, be fluent in Spanish and English, and submit an application that includes a two-page essay and resume. Finalists are interviewed to assess Spanish fluency; both native and non-native Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply.
• Funding: $10,000 award. The program offers up to 10 awards for one or two years, depending on the program of work. 
• Questions? Contact: Dante Vargas, LBSW.