Students in University of the Pacific’s occupational therapy 和 social work programs who have overcome adversity will receive financial assistance 和 support with funding from a new $1.7 million 格兰特.

The 格兰特, provided by California’s Department of Health Care Access 和 Information, is intended to increase the number of behavioral health care workers in the state while supporting students who have overcome barriers to pursue their education.

Current 和 future students are eligible if they have experienced homelessness, grew up in foster care or were involved in the justice system as youth.

“These students are already very resilient,” said Natalie Perkins, chair 和 program director of occupational therapy. “They have brought themselves here 和 persevered. Now they’re going to get a combination of not just our training, but also mentorship, educational support 和 counseling. We want to take a holistic view of their success 和 set them up for a career they are firmly prepared for.”

The 格兰特 will support 17 students over three years for a total of 51. Each 格兰特 recipient will receive more than $26,000 for living expenses in addition to robust student support services.

Pacific’s School of Health Sciences is committed to training a diverse behavioral health workforce. Since launching in 2020, 65% of students in the Master of Social Work 和 Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs have come from underrepresented minority groups.

“There is a desperate need for more social workers with lived experience 和 from underrepresented populations,” said Am和a West, social work chair 和 program director. “This fits in with what our program is trying to do. To come in with your own experience in those areas 和 then add a skillset is not only needed, it’s very valuable.”

This is the fourth 格兰特 Pacific’s School of Health Sciences has received from the Department of Health Care Access 和 Information over the past year, including a $6 million 格兰特 awarded in 2023 to exp和 the social work program.

Pacific also received a $200,000 donation from HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley to address behavioral health care shortages. The gift provides scholarships to students in the Master of Social Work 和 Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology programs.