House Bill 797 is in the Children and Human Services Committee and looks to reduce financial barriers for students pursuing in school social work careers.
Representatives Jodi Salvo and Karen Brownlee provided sponsorship testimony on Tuesday saying that when it comes to behavioral health there is a lack of access to care and provider shortages.
Salvo says HB 797 would establish an apprentice internship and training program.
“The goal is simple, to determine whether paid internship opportunities can strengthen the pipeline of future school based social workers in underserved and high need communities.”
Brownlee says the bill would establish a three-year pilot program and targets five universities, Wright State, Youngstown, Ohio University, Bowling Green, and Miami.
“By limiting the scope of the pilot program by region, placement locations, and type of service we were able to keep the bills appropriation to a flat $1 million while also addressing one of the most severe behavioral healthcare shortages in the state.”
Both note that students working toward a master’s level social work degree are required to serve 900 hours over 18-months in direct practice internship, which mostly are unpaid.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2026