Master Plan for Social Work Education in California
The Master Plan for Social Work Education in the State of California (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 215, Aroner) outlines a course of action to deal with California’s critical shortage of social workers who are needed for the state’s growing high-risk populations.
It addresses the shortage—currently between 14,500 and 20,500 degreed social workers—by proposing an integrated plan for development and training, including a restructuring of social worker professional education.
While the social worker shortage is nationwide, the Master Plan is an effort to address California’s problems—brought to light in legislatively mandated and academic studies and a series of Assembly Human Services Committee hearings—particularly considering the implications for the state’s elderly, abused and neglected children and youth, mentally disabled, and homeless populations.
The Master Plan, as mandated by legislation, is a collaboration among the California Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC), California Community Colleges, University of California, California State University, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, and other stakeholders.
