AB:2222 -The Golden State Opportunities Program is built on a foundation of Student Financial Aid.

This Act to add Article 16, will be applicable to students who attend an in-state postgraduate program from either a University of California, California State University campus or an independent institution of higher education.

The grant will be administered if the student commits to working in a California-based nonprofit eligible setting for their required post degree hours of supervised experience. This program serves as an encouraging opportunity for those students to pursue careers as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). 

A 2018 report, projected that the supply of LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs will be inadequate to meet future demand. AB 2222 addresses the shortage in the mental health workforce, limitations created by financial barriers  and diversifying the mental health workforce since Black and Latino professionals being the most underrepresented group.

The Golden State Opportunities Program will not only benefit the postgraduate students but also the agencies who have faced challenges from COVID-19 and the Great Resignation. These non-profit agencies provide crucial mental health services to a variety of diverse communities, which in turn targets macro level populations that are in need of great assistance.

AB 2222 brings awareness of the increase in shortages of mental health professionals due to monetary barriers. The program aims to combat this barrier by granting a $20,000 scholarship to graduate scholars who have had the unfortunate experiences of being former foster and homeless youth.

Having this in place will allow the California graduate students to provide a different level of comfort, compassion and understanding to the communities who are experiencing the same challenges they once did.

Please help support and share this Bill AB 2222: The Golden State Social Opportunities Program