The Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Pilot Program Act establishes a new initiative within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services aimed at supporting individuals pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. The program will provide commitment stipends of $5,000 per semester to qualified applicants who are residents of Pennsylvania, enrolled in an approved Master of Social Work program, and maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The stipends will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. The program also includes provisions for authorized internships at approved facilities, ensuring that participants receive the necessary clinical training and supervision to prepare them for careers in the behavioral health care workforce.
The act outlines the qualifications for applicants, the process for awarding internships, and the funding mechanisms for the program. It mandates the Department of Human Services to collaborate with managed care organizations and other stakeholders to evaluate the program's outcomes within one year of its implementation, with recommendations for potential expansion. The authority to implement the program will expire three years after its effective date, which is set to be 90 days after the act is enacted.