The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore has committed $15,000 to a new fellowship program for Master of Social Work post-graduate students. Managed by Salisbury University’s School of Social Work, the fellowship will provide new clinicians a two-year opportunity to practice in the local area, expanded training opportunities, professional development, and access to supervisory support to reduce burnout and enhance success.

“We have so many gifted social workers graduating from Salisbury University, and we want to set them up with the support and resources to thrive in their work,” says Dr. Stephen Oby, MSW Program Director. “This fellowship represents a unique opportunity to do that, while growing the number of clinicians in our community and expanding access to mental healthcare on the Lower Shore.”

The fellowship is supported by Healthy Minds for Shore, a community collaboration, initiated by the Greater Salisbury Committee, with the goals of enhancing training and recruitment for local providers, increasing early intervention, growing access and care coordination, and reducing stigma of mental and behavioral health.

“Through collaborative efforts, area practitioners, funders, and community leaders are able to come together and create greatly needed mental health programs such as this fellowship,” says Dr. Samantha Scott, co-founder of Health Minds for Shore. “We have identified tangible goals and have people at the table who are committed to enhancing mental health services for children and families for this region.”

For more information about Healthy Minds for Shore visit HealthyMindsForShore.org.