The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) program was established with the mission to enhance equitable access to healthcare for all Californians, facilitated by modernized healthcare facilities, current health data, and a robust workforce across various communities. Within the framework of HCAI, the Social Work Education Capacity Expansion (SWECE) Grant Program was developed to equip individuals in postsecondary education with the requisite training to address the behavioral health workforce demands. Through HCAI funding, SWECE awards stipends to 25 students per cohort in the full-time MSW program at UCLA. These students undertake internships in health and behavioral health facilities, acquiring competencies to serve communities focusing on youth and children up to the age of 25, along with their families.
The SWECE Grant Program at UCLA Luskin Department of Social Welfare distributes these stipends over the course of the students’ two-year educational program. Notably, the program does not require a repayment obligation upon its stipend awardees. Upon completion of the SWECE Stipend Program at UCLA, graduates are expected to have honed their abilities to cater to the multifaceted and dynamic needs of California’s most marginalized communities, fostered professionalism within themselves, and engaged with community specialists via panels and workshops, thereby enriching their professional and practical knowledge base.
Applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year are now closed.
If you are a MSW candidate with a strong interest in pursuing a career in the health and behavioral healthcare sector, the SWECE Stipend Program presents an opportunity to subsidize your education. SWECE is constituted as a two-year stipend program, providing financial assistance up to $17,500, ($2,500 in Year 1 and $15,000 in Year 2 – $7,500 each Winter/ Spring). Stipend recipients will receive tailored and supportive mentorship from the stipend coordinator. It is important to highlight that recipients of this stipend are not required to fulfill a repayment commitment, financially and occupation-wise, after graduation. It is imperative to acknowledge, however, that participation in the HCAI SWECE Stipend Program does not secure employment within the health care setting for the MSW candidate upon completion.
Our SWECE program searches for students whose backgrounds and aspirations align with the needs and diverse characteristics of underserved communities. Our Stipend Program has a preferential consideration for candidates demonstrating a robust commitment to serving these populations within health/behavioral health care environments.
| Program Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Award | Up to $17,500 over two years |
| Cohort Size | 25 students |
| Program Length | Two years (full-time MSW) |
| Repayment | None |
| Focus | Behavioral health, youth and families |
| Eligibility | Full-time UCLA MSW students |
First, candidates must be admitted into the UCLA MSW two-year program. Subsequent to acceptance, all admitted and interested students are invited to complete a HCAI SWECE stipend application. It is strongly recommended that candidates expressing a dedication to working with underserved youth, children, and their families, in addition to working in behavioral healthcare settings, submit their applications.
Students must be full-time in the MSW program (MSW-only and/or dual degree). Full-time is considered two years. If in a dual degree program, you must complete the MSW program consecutively (2 years).
There is a two-part application process that involves a written application and an oral interview. Generally, in this process, interested applicants must complete the written application by late-May and complete the oral interview in June.
Written: The application includes questions about your understanding of HCAI SWECE requirements as well as your goals in behavioral health care settings.
Oral: The interview will explore your interest and experience working with underserved youth, children, and their families within behavioral health care settings. The oral interview panelists may include Health and Mental Health Across the Lifespan Area of Concentration (HMHAL AoC) faculty and HCAI SWECE Stipend staff.
The preliminary selections are confirmed by the HCAI SWECE Awards Committee. Official HCAI SWECE award notifications are determined no later than end of July.
HCAI SWECE placements are typically within the greater Los Angeles County area. Types of sites our stipend students could expect to join include behavioral health settings including medical/hospital settings, outpatient mental health clinics, non-profit settings, LA County Department of Mental Health sites, LACDMH contracted sites, schools, and others.
The initial year of placement frequently involves engagement with child, youth, and family mental health, as well as community organizations that are dedicated to serving underrepresented youth and family populations, occasionally in school or health care settings. Second year placements, being the specialized year, will be based on student interest and the social work agencies’ allotment of available spots through the Department practicum placement process.
HCAI SWECE students must be part of the Health and Mental Health Across the Lifespan Area of Concentration (HMHAL AoC) in their specialized second year in the MSW program. They will participate in all foundation social welfare classes in their first year and then specialize in Health and Mental Health in addition to enrolling in the required HCAI SWECE courses.
- Many elective courses are available to enhance your education.
These other requirements prepare you for working in the behavioral health settings:
- 1 course with topics relating to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- 2 Advanced practice courses with a focus on behavioral health welfare
- 2 Advanced policy courses with a focus on behavioral health welfare
- 2 MSW electives in the Department
- Practicum placement in public behavioral health settings
- Capstone Project
No, we only offer a full-time program at this time. The full-time program consists of two years consecutively.
Current Students: Please refer to this flyer on commonly asked questions regarding the HCAI SWECE Public Behavioral Health Stipend.
Admitted/Incoming Students: Please refer to our UCLA BOX folder of resources to learn more about our internal stipend program.
Please note: HCAI SWECE Stipend is not affiliated with any external HCAI funding, including their HCAI Behavioral Health Scholarship Program (BHSP) and HCAI Golden State Social Opportunity Program (GSSOP). Please refer to the above flyer to reach out to their appropriate Scholarship Program staff.
Health and Mental Health Placements
The following list represents example sites utilized by HCAI SWECE program, derived from our historical affiliations with health and mental health agencies. It is pertinent to note that the specific agencies participating may vary annually. Placement of students in their first year is orchestrated by the practicum education team. For their second year, students, in collaboration with their practicum liaison, select their placement subsequent to an evaluative interview procedure. Second year placements will be based on student interest and the social work agencies’ allotment of available spots.
About Agency Placements
The Department of Social Welfare assigns HCAI SWECE students in behavioral health settings including medical/hospital settings, outpatient mental health clinics, non-profit settings, LA County Department of Mental Health sites, LACDMH contracted sites, schools, and others. For their subsequent year placements, students are anticipated to undertake their internships in comparably aligned settings.
Internships during the initial year are classified as foundational, with a primary focus on direct (micro) practice. It is a requirement for students to engage in a comprehensive set of tasks or undertake a distinctive project during the first-year internship that encompasses macro-level (advocacy, administrative, etc.) activities. In their second year, interns are provided with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of health and mental healthcare services within these local communities.
Clinical Health and Mental Health Speaker Series
HCAI SWECE offer students a comprehensive exploration of issues encountered in practicum placements and academic settings, facilitated through trainings and professional development workshops and led by community experts. These sessions aim to enhance our students’ both actual and perceived clinical competencies in addressing complex challenges faced by children, youth, and their families in underserved communities, with a focus on developing professional skills.
The workshops and panels, led by experts in behavioral health. Further details regarding the presentation topics for our HCAI SWECE Stipend students will be made available closer to the date of the training.
Fall 2024
October 22, 2024: Public Behavioral Health Pathways: Passion and Practice Panel. Panelists Janine Evans, M.S.W., Jennifer Jorge, L.C.S.W., and Wanda Vasquez, L.C.S.W. shared their practicum experiences in the UCLA M.S.W. program and their career journeys. This session aimed to broaden students’ understanding of the diverse pathways available to M.S.W. graduates.
Winter 2025
February 20, 2025: MSW Approaches to Mental Wellness training. Guest speaker Kylee Jones, LCSW, shared tools and techniques from Indigenous communities to equip students with resources for the social work field. She also presented Indigenous Core Values to provide insight into her work. This session aimed to expand students’ understanding of diverse approaches to supporting individuals from various backgrounds.
Spring 2025
April 17, 2025: Public Behavioral Health Praxis Panel. Panelists Caryn Cortez, L.C.S.W., and Janet Garcia, L.C.S.W., shared insights into their current work as social workers navigating times of funding uncertainty within their agencies. The session provided students with a broader understanding of how public behavioral health organizations and their staff are impacted by shifts in funding. Through the panel, students also gained valuable perspectives on the role of state and federal funding in shaping the operations and services of social work agencies.
Fall 2025
October 23, 2025: Public Behavioral Health Discussion – Teen Anxiety and Substance Use. Guest Speaker, Sophia Galano, L.C.S.W. led an informative lecture on teens who face anxiety and/or substance use. This session aimed to inform our stipend students on identifying substance use in adolescents and discussing techniques and support programs for substance use intervention.
Winter 2026
February 19, 2026: Public Behavioral Health Discussion – Evidence-Based Interventions for Substance Use. Guest Speaker, Ulises Ramirez L.C.S.W. from Wise Mind Behavioral Health led an informative lecture evidence-based practices for substance use including ACT, CBT, and DBT. This session aimed to inform our stipend students on identifying substance use interventions for treating adolescents.
Spring 2026
April 23 and May 21, 2026: Telehealth Training. Guest Speaker: Wise Mind Behavioral Health. They will lead a two-part Telehealth training series in preparation for CA LCSW as Telehealth training is one of the requirements for the CA licensure exam.
Contact Us
Amy Tinoco
SWECE Student Affairs Officer
atinoco@luskin.ucla.edu
Erin Nakamura, L.C.S.W.
SWECE Instructor and Practicum Work Consultant
enakamura@luskin.ucla.edu
Latoya Small, Ph.D., M.S.W.
SWECE Principal Investigator
lsmall@luskin.ucla.edu
Susan Lares-Nakaoka, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.A.
Director of Practicum Education
susan@luskin.ucla.edu