Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is joining a statewide partnership aimed at strengthening North Carolina’s social work workforce and addressing a growing shortage of licensed social workers, particularly in rural communities.
The initiative, known as the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP), was announced during a kickoff event, held March 2 and hosted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Social Work Coalition. The partnership brings together 25 colleges and universities across the state to raise awareness of social work careers and prepare students to address the complex needs of children, individuals and families.
The Coalition consists of 25 universities and colleges, including 14 of the 16 members of the UNC system, that offer social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will serve as the lead entity for the coalition.
North Carolina health officials say the effort comes at a critical time. According to a recent report by the Sheps Center for Health Services Research and NCDHHS, the state had 9,830 licensed clinical social workers in 2024, an average of 8.95 per 10,000 residents, with significantly fewer professionals serving rural communities. Some counties reported no licensed clinical social workers, while dozens of others had fewer than four per 10,000 residents.
“The need for social workers is expected to grow over the next few years,” said NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Meeting this demand is one of our top priorities, and this partnership will examine these challenges and help us create a system of care that makes services available when and where they are needed.”
ECSU leaders say participation in the coalition aligns with the university’s longstanding commitment to serving communities across northeastern North Carolina.
Guided by a framework centered on social and economic justice, ECSU’s Social Work program offers a Bachelor of Social Work degree designed to promote the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Kim S. Downing, LCSW, ACSW, director of the ECSU Bachelor of Social Work program, said the university looks forward to the impact the program will have on the region.
According to Downing, ECSU is excited to be part of this new initiative and the positive impact it will have across northeastern North Carolina. The Public Service Leadership Program will raise awareness of careers in social work among students in high schools, community colleges and universities, while equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to address the complex needs of our communities and help mitigate the critical workforce shortage.
The five-year project began with a one-year planning period this fall, followed by a one-year pilot phase and a three-year testing period. The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work’s Office of Community Engagement and Outreach will manage program implementation. Students will be able to apply to participate when the application window opens in the spring.
Through its participation in the coalition, ECSU aims to help expand the regional workforce while increasing access to mental health, behavioral health and social services for vulnerable populations throughout the state.
The Social Work Coalition on North Carolina Workforce Development seeks to expand and diversify the child welfare and behavioral health workforce by identifying workforce gaps, developing new education pathways and building partnerships to support long-term workforce growth.