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.

• Focus: Aging and gerontology in social work practice
• Eligibility: MSSW students
• Requirements: GRACE Practicum Placement; GRACE Orientation Session; Educational Events (1-3 per semester)
• Funding: Students in a Generalist Practicum may apply competitively for a $7,500 fellowship, while students in a Specialist (Final) Practicum may apply for a $5,000 fellowship. Award availability depends on annual funding. Historically, approximately 10 awards have been provided each year for Generalist Practicum students and 10 for Specialist (Final) Practicum students. Students who complete both practicums in GRACE settings may apply for funding during each placement.GRACE students may also have opportunities to attend professional conferences, including the annual On Aging Conference, with most or all expenses covered by the program.

  At commencement, graduates receive the designation of GRACE Scholar. After graduation, they remain connected through the GRACE Graduates Network, which supports ongoing professional development in aging-related social work.

• Questions? Download a one-pager. Contact Anna Hardy Finger, LCSW

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.