HEALS
Social Work HEALS-IL is a healthcare social work scholarship and leadership program at the University of Illinois (2015-2021) for BSW or MSW students during field placement. Our School was among 10 Schools of Social Work that were awarded a five-year grant from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation to implement this program (PI, Dr. Janet Liechty). Together, the 10 Schools of Social Work form the HEALS Consortium. The national Social Work HEALS program aims to develop the next generation of healthcare social work leaders who can lead efforts to improve quality and equitable access to healthcare in the U.S.
Benefit to students:
Two BSW students and two MSW students are selected each year as HEALS Scholars (2015-2021).
Each receives a $4000 scholarship during their field placement and participate in the year long program.
HEALS scholars also attend a 2-day healthcare policy conference in Washington, D.C. in the spring (paid by the grant), and bi-weekly seminars at the SSW. Field instructors for the HEALS scholars serve as HEALS mentors, and they also participate in some of these seminars and receive support to attend a spring conference on Social Work in Healthcare Leadership. These conferences provide opportunity for training and networking among the 40 HEALS scholars and mentors selected each year across the U.S. in the HEALS Consortium.