Alumni
In a field that provides invaluable support to communities and individuals in need, the path to becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) is not always an easy one.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates that LCSW candidates amass a minimum of 3,000 supervised field experience hours in a clinical setting, spanning two to six years, with 150 hours under the direct supervision of an LCSW practitioner. This requirement can present considerable hurdles for aspiring social workers. Many employers do not provide supervision as part of their employment benefits, and even when they do, the assigned supervisor’s specialty may not align with the supervisee’s area of interest. In scenarios where a job placement fails to facilitate a supervisor pairing, social workers are left to navigate the intricate process of finding a qualified supervisor independently. Additionally, many of the supervisors charge fees for their supervision, creating a tremendous financial barrier.
The LCSW Supervision Matching Program, conceived as a solution to these challenges, originated from a candid conversation between Molly Allwein, director of professional and continuing education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, and Bethany Hemingway, senior program officer at Staunton Farm Foundation. Both graduates of the Pitt MSW program, they recognized well the barriers that social work graduates encounter as they strive to establish their careers.
This program, with support from a Staunton Farm Foundation grant, strives to make the path to becoming a licensed clinical social worker more accessible by pairing aspiring LCSWs with supervisors who have completed a 20-hour comprehensive training. Because Pennsylvania lacks mandatory training and credentialing for supervisors, a crucial part of this program is preparing supervisors for this role.
Currently, the program is working to onboard its second cohort. Each cohort includes two supervisors and eight supervisees. Cohort members have four years in the program to complete their supervision hours. The program places significant emphasis on supporting social workers with marginalized identities, recognizing the importance of patients having access to clinicians who share their background and can empathize with their unique traumas. It also addresses individuals living in rural communities, where access to social workers may be limited.
The matching program additionally offers career services support to aid participants in preparing for the LCSW exam. It provides practice tests, exam booklets, and one-on-one support from Bobby Simmons, Pitt Social Work’s director of career services. The program also includes seminars covering topics like resume building and establishing private practices that feature experts in these areas.
The LCSW Supervision Matching Program not only provides aspiring social workers with necessary tools to overcome barriers in their career path but also fosters a sense of community and professional networking through the cohort experience. Reflecting on the program’s impact, Brittani Berkeley (MSW ’18), an aspiring LCSW, highlights the value of the program’s network and community, which has provided her with a platform to engage in meaningful discussions about field experiences. She emphasizes that the program has bolstered her confidence in trusting her instincts and expanded her skill set. Although her busy schedule limits her attendance at seminars, Berkeley values the program’s role in keeping participants informed about the latest developments in the field and their potential impact on the profession.
Current supervisor Mikea Wall praises the program’s intentional matching of licensed social workers and LCSWs, emphasizing the opportunity it provides for growth, networking, and mutual support. She expresses appreciation for the chance to meet and build relationships with Black women in her field. As a supervisor, Wall has learned to be self-aware and is able to hold space for others who are still growing. Together, these narratives underscore the program’s dual impact: equipping social workers with essential skills and creating a supportive community for professional development.
With participation not limited to Pitt alumni, this program positions Pitt Social Work as a dependable resource at every stage of social workers’ career paths, extending networks beyond fellow Pitt alumni to social workers in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Allwein is hopeful that programs like this will become more widely adapted and available to aspiring LCSWs. Additionally, Allwein is actively advocating for supervisor training in Pennsylvania, using the LCSW Supervision Matching Program’s 20-hour comprehensive training as a model to influence future mandated programs.
“I am really grateful for this
opportunity because I feel
like I have grown, not only as a
clinician but as a cohort. We’ve
all grown together.”
—Brittani Berkeley
New Programs and Courses from the Office of Professional and Continuing Education
In 2024, the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Office of Professional and Continuing Education will be:
• launching a statewide eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) training and certification program in partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Medicaid providers;
• offering two new continuing education (CE) intensive courses, titled Racial Equity Consciousness Training Institute and Mental Fitness;
• advocating for a nationwide professional licensure compact, a statewide program to reduce barriers and support licensed social workers (through supervision and mentoring) in obtaining their clinical licensure, and a stronger workforce pipeline for social workers and other helping professions;
• continuing to provide live, virtual, and asynchronous CE course options for licensed professionals to obtain their necessary CE hours in the way that is most convenient for them; and
• offering monthly CE program highlights
(and discounts!) through our email newsletter.
More information about all these options (and the sign-up form for our email newsletter) can be found on the Continuing Education website