Specialized Mental Health Program

MSW students interested in work with persons who have mental illnesses may elect the Mental Health Specialized Study as part of the regular MSW program, or they may apply for acceptance in the Specialized Mental Health Program (SMHP).

The SMHP is a nationally recognized program designed to prepare MSW students to work with:

• Adults with major mental illnesses -- adults in the public mental health system who have mental disorders such a schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other severe and persistent disorders.
  
  
• Children with pervasive and severe emotional disorders, and their families -- covering such conditions as bipolar disorder, autism, major depression, suicidal ideation, obsessive/compulsive disorders, severe anxiety disorders and severe behavioral disorders.

Working with persons who have serious mental illness, and their families, has become a top national, state, and local priority. The field has developed rapidly, and there is a shortage of professionals specializing in this kind of work. With state-of-the-art training and specialized field experience that this program provides, graduates have been aggressively recruited by organizations throughout the U.S.

Curriculum Requirements

As an SMHP student, you must complete the curriculum requirements of the MSW program. However, instead of the standard MSW electives, you take three courses designed specifically for the SMHP as well as specialized field instruction and a seminar series. View the detailed curriculum for the SMHP.

Admission Requirements

Students whose personal goals are compatible with the mission of the SMHP program -- to increase the number of highly trained and committed professionals who work with persons with severe mental illnesses in the public mental health system -- are encouraged to apply.

In order to participate in the SMHP program, you must first be accepted as a full-time student in the MSW program. As soon as acceptance into the MSW program is received, interested students should contact by letter or email:

Joyce Borkin, PhD, Director
Specialized Mental Health Program
joyce.borkin@uc.edu 
(513) 556-4629