As San Joaquin County faces a shortage of behavioral health workers, a program aimed at reducing educational costs and helping pay for interns is attracting students pursuing master's degrees. ” Christina Gilbert, director of San Joaquin County Health Force Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley, said, “The number of services ranges from mild to moderate to severe, even hundreds to hundreds of people. I wouldn't be surprised.” Force Partners of the Northern San Joaquin Valley, a partnership between San Joaquin County and the Department of Health, has earmarked $5.2 million to hire more behavioral health workers in the county. Scholarships awarded through this initiative paid for Estefania Hernández Luna's first semester at Stanislaus State University. “If I did that, I would have a really hard time. I would have to find another job on the side and work on the weekends when I could do my homework,'' Hernández Luna said. For Hernández Luna, whose student loan borrowers collectively owe more than $1 trillion in federal debt, this initiative meant a new career opportunity for her. She told KCRA that because of the debt she accumulated during her undergraduate years, she may never have completed her master's degree if she didn't have financial aid. Ivana Moreno is one of the students who benefited from this program. As a young mother, she says she can't worry about finances while raising children. She said, “Her daughter is so young that she doesn't even know if she's going to pursue it.'' I want to be a part of it,” Moreno added. Both Luna and Moreno work as paid interns through the program, providing a sense of security that many of their colleagues don't have. “My colleagues still have to think about going to work after class, but thankfully I don't have to worry about that. I can go.” or focus on the homework that needs to be done,” Moreno said. Paid internships are not common and typically require students to put in hundreds of hours of work. Because of this, many students are forced to take on second jobs to cover their personal expenses. “The cost of living is expensive, and asking students to have no income while attending graduate school and putting in 500 hours for an MSW student has an incredibly high impact,” Gilbert told KCRA. The program, which began less than a year ago, will run through 2026, with at least seven graduates continuing to intern.Dozens of new students will qualify each year. Also includes retention bonuses for existing behavioral health workers within.
As San Joaquin County faces a shortage of behavioral health workers, a program aimed at reducing educational costs and helping pay for interns is attracting students pursuing master's degrees.
“If you look across the county and look at all the behavioral health services from mild to moderate to severe, I wouldn't be surprised if the number is in the hundreds or hundreds,” said Christina Gilbert of San Joaquin County. “Sho,” he said. Director of Health Force Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley.
A partnership between San Joaquin County and Health Force Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley has earmarked $5.2 million to hire more behavioral health workers in the county.
The scholarship awarded through this initiative paid for Estefania Hernández Luna's first semester of tuition at Stanislaus State University.
“To be honest, I don’t know if I would. [stayed in the program] If I did, I would have a very hard time. I will have to find another job on the side and work on the weekends when I can do my homework,” Hernández Luna said.
According to the Federal Reserve, student loan borrowers owe more than $1 trillion in combined federal and private student loans.
For Hernández Luna, this commitment meant a new career opportunity. She told KCRA that because of the debt she accumulated during her undergraduate years, she may never have completed her master's degree without her financial assistance. .
Ivana Moreno is another student who benefited from this program. As a young mother, she says she can't worry about finances while raising children.
“My daughter is really young so I don't even know if she's going to pursue it. I feel like these are important years for her and I want to be a part of her life. ”Moreno added.
Moreno and Hernández Luna also work as paid interns through the program, providing a sense of security that many of their colleagues don't have.
“My colleagues still have to think about going to work after class, but thankfully I don't have to worry about that. I can go home and spend time with my daughter or have homework to do. “I can concentrate on things,” Moreno said.
Paid internships are not common and typically require hundreds of hours of work from students. Because of this, many students are forced to take on second jobs to cover their personal expenses.
“The cost of living is high, and asking students to have no income while attending graduate school and teaching 500 hours for MSW students is an incredibly high cost,” Gilbert told KCRA. “It makes an impact. And for a lot of people, that's not possible.”
The program started less than a year ago and will run until 2026, with at least seven graduates working at the internship site.
Dozens of new students qualify for financial aid each year.
The initiative also includes retention bonuses for existing behavioral health workers in the county.
