CSWE's 2020–2021 doctoral Minority Fellowship Program application cycle is now closed.

How to Apply

• CSWE's 2020–2021 doctoral Minority Fellowship Program application cycle is now closed. Applicants will be notified of their application status in August 2020. 
• The 2021–2022 application cycle will open in late January 2021. If you would like to be notified when the next application cycle opens, add your e-mail here.  
• Questions about application requirements can be directed to mfp@cswe.org.

Minority Fellowship Program for Doctoral Students

​The doctoral MFP targets but is not limited to racial/ethnic minority individuals pursuing the doctoral degree in social work. An applicant must hold a social work master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Applicants’ career goals should center on leadership in practice, research, teaching, or policy promulgation with underrepresented and underserved persons facing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges.

The purpose of the program is to reduce health disparities and improve health-care outcomes of racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals available to underserved populations in the public and private nonprofit sectors.

Funds for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fellowship Program are provided by the Center for Mental Health Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Eligibility Requirements

• An applicant must be an American citizen, noncitizen national, or have permanent residence status (international students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students, and work visa holders are not eligible to apply).
• The fellowship targets but is not limited to minority ethnic/racial groups.
• An applicant must have a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and be starting full-time study leading to a doctoral degree in social work or be currently enrolled as a full-time student in a doctoral social work program.
• Applicants must demonstrate potential for assuming a leadership role providing mental health and substance abuse services to ethnic/racial minority individuals and communities and potential for success in doctoral studies.
• Applicants cannot receive another source of federal funding during the fellowship year (federal loans excluded).
• Applicants must be able to attend MFP training at CSWE's Annual Program Meeting (travel and other expenses covered by MFP).

General Selection Criteria

• Evidence of strong fit with and commitment to behavioral health services for underserved racial/ethnic populations
• Life experiences relevant to and/or volunteer or work experience with racial/ethnic populations
• High-quality scholarly writing showing the ability to think and write at the doctoral level
• Academic evidence of ability to achieve timely degree completion
• Behavioral health services or research agenda that fits the MFP mission

Award

• Monthly stipends for a 1-year period (approximately $2,000/month)
• Specialized training and professional development support
• Duration of award is 3 years, awarded 1 year at a time and contingent on funding and whether the fellow maintains satisfactory progress toward degree objectives