The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Social Work Coalition on Workforce Development are partnering to create a Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP) that will strengthen the state’s social work workforce.
The coalition consists of 25 universities and colleges in North Carolina that offer social work programs and are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
“The need for social workers is expected to grow over the next decade, but supporting this workforce has long been a challenge due to low salaries and challenging workplace conditions,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “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.”
The five-year project kicked off this fall with a one-year planning period, followed by a one-year pilot and a three-year testing period. The School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will serve as the lead entity for the coalition. The School’s Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, led by Associate Dean Kathy Colville, will administratively manage the implementation of the PSLP. Students interested in applying for the program will be able to do so starting in March 2026. NCDHHS will provide more information when the application window opens.
“We are honored by the opportunity to collaborate with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and deeply appreciate their trust, support and confidence in our shared mission,” UNC School of Social Work Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson said. “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.”
“Social workers bring unique and highly valuable skills to our public system of care,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “This new leadership program will strengthen our workforce by preparing social workers to meet the complex needs of individuals and families across North Carolina. By investing in training, support, and career pathways, we are building a workforce that can make a lasting impact in communities—especially those that have historically lacked access to quality mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability services.”
The PSLP program will focus on and work toward three goals:
- Increasing awareness of careers in social work among students in North Carolina high schools, community colleges, colleges and universities;
- Strengthening the learning experience of current social work students by equipping them with the professional knowledge and skills needed to address the complex needs of NC families and communities. A special emphasis will be placed on rural communities and Medicaid-eligible populations, within these critical service domains: child and family services, mental health, substance use, aging, and intellectual/developmental disabilities; and justice-involved populations;
- Creating resiliency in the existing workforce to increase retention and compassion satisfaction while also effectively serving populations with complex needs.
“The social work profession is expected to grow by 12% over the next six years and the PSLP program will be a driving force to ensure that we meet that workforce demand,” said Sarah Reives Houston, UNC School of Social Work interim assistant dean of workforce development. “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. I’m proud of the colleges and universities that have banded together as part of the Social Work Coalition on NC Workforce Development to make this dream a reality.”
Ensuring there are enough mental health professionals in the workforce is a critical component of care. From early childhood educators to direct care workers and public health leaders, NCDHHS is committed to building a workforce that will continue to keep North Carolinians healthy and well.
