NASW Alaska | The Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers

The State of Alaska continues to lead the nation in a number of arenas: incidents of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and violent crimes especially crimes against women (Violence Policy Center, 2006). The state also continues to struggle with an ever-increasing population with needs related to mental health and addictions as well as a rapidly growing aging population, which will increase the numbers of older Alaskans and the needs associated with this population (ISER, 2006). In addition, the poverty rate in rural / remote Alaska far exceeds the national average, and issues related to homelessness continue to plague many areas of the state (ISER, 2006).

There are 1028 licensed professionals in the behavioral health field in Alaska. Over 350 licensed clinical social workers and 60 licensed BSWs provide over 1/3 of the behavioral health services in the state. The demand for more workers in this area is eclipsed only by certain health professions. The UAA and UAF Schools of Social Work graduated 35 BSWs in 2005, and 22 MSWs the same year. Twenty-seven (27) additional students anticipate graduating with a distance-delivered MSW in 2008. This does not address demand: in 2012, 266 masters-levels social workers will be required in the mental health, substance abuse, and medical fields[1]. The programs cannot meet industry demand, and Mental Health Trust grant funding for the distance-delivered MSW will end in July 2007. NASW Alaska Chapter supports the full funding and expansion of the BSW and MSW programs, both on campus and distance-delivered, at UAA and UAF. NASW Alaska Chapter supports a $183,000 GF increment to continue the MSW distance delivered program.

At the same time, the State of Alaska continues to have difficulty filling social work positions in these and others arenas, in urban, rural and bush areas of the state. In March of this year, the National Association of Social Workers released a study that indicated a potential threat to services for millions of Americans, Alaskans included, due to shortages of qualified social workers (NASW, 2006). Currently, 28 states offer some form of loan forgiveness to college-educated social workers (NASW, 2004). Alaska has a history of educational loan forgiveness. The time is right to include social workers in a loan forgiveness plan.

A program that provides educational loan forgiveness

A program that provides educational loan forgiveness for social workers in Alaska would relieve the educational loan debt currently experienced by those in the profession. Other student loan forgiveness plans have been related to the number of years a graduate stayed in their profession and in Alaska. This seems like a reasonable approach. A loan forgiveness program would be a good first step in expanding a human services workforce to address health, social welfare, and safety issues statewide. NASW Alaska Chapter supports student loan forgiveness for bachelors- and masters-educated social workers.

A National Perspective: Protecting Consumers-Promoting the Profession

NASW is promoting loan forgiveness for social workers as part of its on-going work to improve working conditions, salaries, and other benefits for members of the profession and to ensure that consumers have access to qualified professionals. NASW will continue its support for proposals to provide loan forgiveness for social workers in child welfare and schools, while also working to secure loan forgiveness and other educational supports for social workers in other practice areas. Loan forgiveness legislation will be considered by Congress during deliberations on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1998.

[1] Industry Staffing Patterns1 -- Core Healthcare: Hospitals, Outpatient, Physician & Dentist Offices and Healthcare and Social Assistance Residual Prepared for the AWIB Healthcare Industry Workforce Readiness Meeting -- February 2005; Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research & Analysis Section