Hello, and thank you for viewing our petition. We are a group of Master of Social Work students at California State University Fullerton who are lobbying for The Golden State Social Opportunities Program (AB 2222). This program provides scholarships of up to $20,000 annually to students enrolled in a graduate program within the mental health field, both public & private. The scholarship requires the student to commit to working in a California-Based nonprofit for two years where they may receive their supervised hours toward licensure, therefore projecting them to become an LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the projected number of mental health professionals does not meet the demand for current levels of mental health crises.

First priority in this opportunity is for former foster youth and homeless youth and then for individuals who are currently employed at a California-based nonprofit. This push for former foster and homeless youth is due to the current demand for more licensed mental health providers with lived experience to serve those with similar circumstances to improve quality of care.

Without this scholarship, social workers and other students in mental health professions must complete extensive fieldwork while they are still in school, which makes it difficult to attend to their family needs, complete fieldwork, and support themselves and their families financially.

Additionally, the current makeup of the mental health workforce does not reflect the diversity of the state, with Black and Latino professionals being the most underrepresented group. 

By supporting this bill, you are supporting an increased supply of licensed mental health professionals, especially those with lived experience and those from diverse backgrounds. Thank you for your support by signing this bill.