SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa, aspiring school social workers will have expanded opportunities to receive a scholarship.
“Expanding opportunities for people pursuing their education and licensure is critical to address the current shortage of behavioral health providers, especially in schools,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “With the rates of anxiety and depression in young people on the rise, ensuring more capable professionals become school social workers is essential.”
House Bill 5460 will expand scholarship opportunities for school social workers by allowing School Social Worker scholarships awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to be used at private, not-for-profit institutions in addition to public universities.
The law will also allow current students to apply for the scholarship before completing their social work licensure and obtaining their Master of Social Work degree. The change will address previous technical challenges that prevented applicants from accessing the scholarship.
“As a former school social worker, I know the profound impact behavioral health professionals have on the lives of students and their families,” said Villa. “If we want to address workforce shortages and expand access to care, we must ensure higher education remains within reach. We cannot allow financial barriers to stand in the way of the next generation of behavioral health providers.”
House Bill 5460 was signed into law Friday.
