The Latinx Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health (LCOEBH) recently launched a new collaboration with Marin Community Clinics (MCC). Designed to build the pipeline of integrated behavioral health practitioners at MCC, the Latinx ASW Fellowship in Integrated Behavioral Health is seeking two to four Latinx-identified or bilingual Spanish-speaking MSW 2022 graduates from Berkeley Social Welfare for two-year paid and benefited positions.
Fellows will be immersed in a medical clinic and obtain hands-on training and experience working within an IBH model. IBH blends care in one setting for medical conditions and related behavioral health factors that affect health and well-being. With 70% of primary care visits rooted in psychosocial concerns, providing integrated behavioral care in a medical setting leads to better health outcomes.
In addition to weekly group supervision and a training seminar, fellows will be assigned a “professional mentor” on the MCC IBH team. Fellows will become adept at assessment, individual and group treatment, case management, and consultation skills.
This program grew out of many years of collaboration between Berkeley Social Welfare and the Marin Community Clinics. Over the years, MCC has served as a field placement site for Berkeley MSW students. Chief Behavioral Health Officer Lizzie Horevitz (MSW ‘09; PhD ‘13) is a graduate of our program, and has been both a guest lecturer and a trainer for Berkeley Social Welfare MSW students and their field instructors.
Says Horevitz, “We are so thrilled to partner with UC Berkeley and LCOEBH to offer this opportunity for Fellows to receive high quality training while also helping meet the needs of our patient population. While we are not the first ASW training program in the Bay Area, historically these types of fellowships have paid less than formal positions... We are breaking this mold and offering a competitive salary, benefits and training because we see this, too, as a matter of social justice—paying a competitive and living wage will set new graduates up for success and longevity working in public sector safety net settings like Marin Community Clinics.”
LCOEBH Associate Director Lissette Flores adds, “MCC plays such a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of Latinx and other immigrant communities in Marin County. This Fellowship will afford Berkeley Social Welfare graduates the opportunity to work and learn as part of a cohort and to be mentored by seasoned professionals. For students interested in becoming licensed practitioners, the Fellowship is designed to meet California’s licensure requirements. It’s an all around amazing opportunity for our students. ”
The fellowship requires fluency in Spanish, though applicants do not need to be affiliated with the LCOEBH.
As a “safety net” health center serving a largely Latinx and Spanish-speaking population, MCC is dedicated to building a diverse IBH workforce that is representative of the patients they serve. The largest federally qualified health center in Marin County, MCC serves nearly 40,000 people – primarily low-income Marin County residents. The majority of patients (71%) are publicly insured through Medi-Cal. In 2021 approximately 69% of patients were Latinx, 18% Caucasian, 4%, Asian/Pacific Islander, 2% Black/African American, and 7% other. Almost 65% are best served in a language other than English; for most of these individuals, Spanish is their first language and many are monolingual Spanish-speakers.
Although Marin County is one of the wealthiest counties in California, it is also the county with the highest rate of residential segregation and has significant disparities in access to health care. The Canal, Marin City, and parts of Novato experience a 9+ year lifespan difference as compared to wealthier neighboring communities in Marin.
Horevitz is looking forward to the new program. “I feel extremely passionate about this fellowship because of its focus on training the next generation of IBH clinicians and leaders. We are particularly excited about providing a supportive and structured learning space for a cohort of MSW graduates as they work towards licensure, with a special focus on mentoring Spanish-speaking/bicultural clinicians.”
Apply Now! Application deadline has been extended to Monday, April 25th. Students interested in applying to the Latinx ASW Fellowship should apply online at MCC Careers.