Project Summary
The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Professional Education Department and the Vankirk Career Center have partnered with Staunton Farm Foundation to develop a four-year program aimed at reducing the barriers to clinical licensure and increasing the mental health workforce in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Our program accomplishes this by supporting both new LCSWs who wish to become supervisors and LSWs who wish to obtain their clinical licenses, but face barriers in obtaining their supervision hours. This project is specifically focused on social workers at both licensure levels who have traditionally marginalized identities.
This project consists of three main initiatives:
- Our LCSW Supervision Training Institute which offers comprehensive supervisory training to LCSWs
- A supervision matching program which matches trained LCSWs with LSWs for up to 4 years of free supervision
- Specialized career service support to the cohort of LSWs in the program
Participant Eligibility
In order to be eligible to participate in this program, candidates must be located in the following counties in Pennsylvania. Additionally, participants MUST be working full or part-time in a role that meets LCSW criteria.
- Allegheny
- Armstrong
- Beaver
- Butler
- Fayette
- Greene
- Indiana
- Lawrence
- Washington
- Westmoreland
- Additionally, specific referrals from our Bradford and Johnstown MSW programs may be accepted on a case by case basis.
LCSW Supervision Training Institute
The first step in this project was the development of our LCSW Supervision Training Institute. The asynchronous training consists a total of 20 hours of asynchronous, self-paced learning modules for participants to navigate on their own as well a 3-hour, live and interactive online webinar for our program participants to ask questions, review case studies, meet their fellow trainees, and interact with our lead trainers to gain clarity on any topics that require further discussion. The training institute will exist in perpetuity until the information contained within is inaccurate and in need of updating. LCSWs who are part of this program will access this training free of charge. This training is mandatory to become a supervisor for our program.
Supervision Matching Program
Both LCSWs and LSWs wishing to participate in this program will complete a thorough application, and the program team will select a final cohort of 16 LSWs and 4 LCSWs who will be matched at a 4/1 ratio. The program team will carefully and intentionally match each trained LCSW supervisor with 4 LSWs who have applied and been accepted to our program based on area of practice, skills, age/gender identity, demographics, location, and other factors. Our program specifically focuses on providing support to social workers with marginalized identities, as well as those who work in rural or under-resourced areas or neighborhoods. All these factors are considered on the program application. The LCSW supervisor cohort will commit to provide individual and group supervision to their 4 assigned LSWs over the following 4 years and will be reimbursed through the grant funding at $50/hour for group supervision and $25/hour for individual.
Specialized Career Service Support
Licensed social workers who are a part of this program will receive several career center trainings specific to their needs as soon-to-be clinically licensed professionals. They will also receive assistance with test prep and studying for the LCSW exam as well as free practice tests. Finally, they will have access to general career services such as resume review and mock interview services and the ability to attend trainings on topics such as salary negotiation.
- Our Partner: Staunton Farm Foundation
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The LCSW Training Institute & Supervision Matching Program is made possible by a generous gift from Staunton Farm Foundation. Staunton Farm Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people who live with mental illness and substance use disorders. The Foundation works to enhance behavioral health treatment, support, and recovery through grant making to nonprofit organizations in 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland).
- Meet Our Training Instructors
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James H. Andrews, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, CMFSW Mr. Andrews is a clinical social worker with expertise in forensic social work. He has been practicing in the field of behavioral health for over thirty-five years as a clinical social worker, therapist, administrator, risk manager, consultant and educator. He provides forensic social work consultation as an expert witness. He is a fulltime faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh in the School of Social Work and an adjunct faculty member with Chatham University Department of Social Work in Pittsburgh, PA. Andrews holds degrees in general management, psychology and social work. He also holds advanced licensure in social work including the LCSW in Pennsylvania, the LICSW in Massachusetts. He provides expert witness services in both civil and criminal cases involving behavioral health malpractice, wrongful death, sexual abuse allegations and death penalty mitigation. He also provides compliance and risk management consulting to behavioral health professionals. Andrews is very active in his professional association, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and is a Past President of NASW-PA. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. His areas of research are threat assessment and violence prediction.
Sharise Nance LCSW, CCTP (also known as the Compassion Fatigue lady) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Compassion Fatigue Specialist, Adjunct Professor, Award Winning Entrepreneur and Author. She is the co-owner and founder of HandinHand Counseling Services LLC and has over 20 years of experience assisting individuals, couples and families see beyond energy depletion, hopelessness, panic, guilt and feeling overwhelmed and assists them in making a shift to a place of peace, joy, clarity, and gratification. Sharise also dedicates her efforts to running Vitamin C Healing, an organization designed to promote life balance, satisfaction, and fulfillment among those throughout the helping profession and beyond. With considerable experience speaking at keynotes, workshops, and seminars for young professionals, helping professionals, caregivers, entrepreneurs, women, parents, and adolescents across the country; she strives to equip individuals with the tools to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout to live happy, fulfilled lives and careers. With her depth of experience from nearly two decades working with a diverse population of people from all walks of life, Sharise is eager to share all that she is learned. Most recently, Sharise created the S.W.A.G. Awards: Social Worker Appreciation of Greatness Awards, to honor the "heart work" of local social workers in the Greater Pittsburgh area who often go unappreciated and unrecognized. She resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband William Nance. More information on Sharise can be found by visiting www.vitaminchealing.com
- LCSW Supervisor Application
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We are no longer taking applications at this time, thank you.
- LSW Supervisee Application
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If you are interested in becoming a clinical supervisee for this program and need supervision hours, please click on the link below to complete our application. The following materials that you will need to submit are listed below and your application progress can be saved and finished at a later time by using the original link. The application deadline is October 2, 2023.
- In 200 words or less, explain why you want to be a part of this program
- In 200 words or less, describe your area of work in greater detail
- In 200 words or less, explain your necessity for obtaining free hours of supervision as well as career center support
- In 200 words or less, describe your experience with anti-racist/oppression work as well as your experience (if any) with mentoring or supervision to date
- A letter of recommendation
- A resume
- Project Mission & Goals
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- Reduce barriers to clinical licensure by making supervision affordable, and simple to find a skilled clinical supervisor
- Strengthen the population of licensed clinical social workers in the greater Pittsburgh region
- Increase the amount of licensed clinicians with marginalized identities and those who are from rural areas where access to mental health support is limited
- Provide a built-in network of colleagues through utilizing a cohort model of training and supervision
- FAQ
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Q: What are the LCSW supervisor qualifications for this program?
A: To qualify as a supervisor, an individual must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an active LCSW license in the state of PA
- Have at least 5 years of experience (non-licensed) within the last 10 years as a social worker
- Be qualified by training and experience to practice in the supervisee’s area of practice
- Complete our signature Clinical Supervision Training
- May not be a relative of the supervisee, involved in a dual relationship, or see the supervisee in treatment
Q: What is acceptable as supervised clinical experience?
A: At least 1,500 hours (one-half of the 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience) shall consist of providing services in one or more of the following areas: (i) Assessment (ii) Psychotherapy (iii) Other psychosocial-therapeutic interventions (facilitation of client/peer, mediation, psycho education) (iv) Consultation (v) Family therapy (vi) Group therapy.
Please note the above 6 experiences should involve direct client contact. The remainder of the clinical experience must be related to work with clients. Example: case documentation and recordkeeping activities; court testimony related to work with client(s); advocacy on behalf of client(s); other activities that involve, support or enhance work with clients. Also, please be advised that administrative duties cannot be counted towards the 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Examples: administrative supervision of another individual, completing human resource and/or budget documentation, etc.
Q: How many clinical hours per week must I work for the supervised clinical experience to be accepted?
A: Under Section 47.12c(b)(8) of the regulations; supervised clinical work activity will be counted toward satisfying the experience requirement only • if it takes place in a single setting for at least 30 hours per week but no more than 50 hours per week during at least a 3-month period • OR at least 15 hours per week for a period of at least 6 months.
Q: How many hours of supervised clinical experience are required for licensure as a clinical social worker?
A: 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience are required. The supervised clinical experience shall be completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years. PLEASE NOTE: This program allows for 2-4 years of funding for supervision only.
Q: How many hours per week must I meet with my supervisor?
A: The supervisor shall meet with the supervisee for a minimum of 2 hours for every 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 1 of the 2 hours shall be with the supervisee individually and in person, and 1 of the 2 hours may be with the supervisee in a group setting and in person. Full Time Work Example: For every 40 hours of clinical experience you must have at least 1 hour of individual supervision and 1 hour may be group supervision or individual supervision. Part Time Work Example: If working 20 hours per week – 1 week you must have 1 hour of individual supervision and the next week you may have 1 hour of individual supervision or 1 hour of group supervision.
PLEASE NOTE: This program offers 1 hour of individual and 1 hour of group supervision per week.
Q: What qualifications are required of my supervisor for my supervised clinical experience?
A: 1,500 hours must be completed under an individual who holds a current license as a clinical social worker and has 5 years of clinical experience within the last 10 years as a clinical social worker. The other 1,500 hours may be completed under an individual who holds a current license and a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field and have 5 years’ experience within the last 10 years in that field. A related field is defined in Section 47.1 of the regulations.
PLEASE NOTE: This program offers fully trained and licensed LCSW supervisors only
Q: What documentation am I required to maintain while I am completing my supervised clinical experience?
A: You and your supervisor must maintain records as defined in Section 47.12d (Standards for supervisors). You and your supervisor will devise a form to use to maintain your records. The Board may request these records if it becomes necessary.
PLEASE NOTE: The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work will NOT maintain your clinical supervision records. This is your responsibility.
Q: What documentation must I submit to verify my supervised clinical experience?
A: There are forms in the licensure application to be completed by the supervisor. You will be able to download the supervised clinical experience forms when you submit your licensure application on-line at www.pals.pa.gov.