November 2024

From the MFP Team  Greetings MFP Community!  The Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is excited to announce its renewal for another 5 years, supported by a generous grant of more than $9.5 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This invaluable funding allows the MFP to equip even more social work students with the critical skills to address the mental health and substance use needs of underserved racial and ethnic communities. With increased funding for this cycle, MFP is positioned to support a larger cohort of fellows and expand training resources, amplifying the impact of the program.   This year marks an exciting milestone: the 50th cohort of MFP Fellows, which is the program's largest yet. CSWE’s MFP is proud to support 30 doctoral fellows and 40 master’s fellows. Selected through a competitive application process, fellows receive a stipend, mentorship, specialized training, and hands-on experience that prepares them to lead in behavioral health with a focus on racial and ethnic minority populations. Fellows also join the MFP community—a network of hundreds of dedicated professionals who advance social work and behavioral health. Since 1974, the CSWE MFP has proudly supported more than 800 doctoral and 300 master’s fellows, many of whom have made lasting contributions as practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and educators. The MFP is honored to continue advancing the missions of CSWE and SAMHSA and looks forward to supporting social work students in achieving their professional and educational goals.   Warm regards, Collina D. Cooke, PhD, LCSW-C

Welcome 2024–2025 MFP Fellows! 

We’re thrilled to announce the 2024–2025 MFP cohort, featuring 30 outstanding doctoral and 40 exceptional MSW fellows! After an extensive selection process, with hundreds of inspiring applicants and guidance from our esteemed advisory committee, we’re excited to bring together this incredible group who will surely have a lasting impact on the social work profession and beyond.

This year fellows are offered the opportunity to be part of a dynamic network, gaining unique insights from behavioral health experts, enhancing their professional skills, and building lasting connections with peers who share their passion. Let’s give a warm welcome to the new cohort as they embark on this transformative journey with the MFP community!

 

The MFP’s Anniversary Gala: Celebrating 50 Years

On October 26th, during CSWE’s APM in Kansas City, MO, we gathered to commemorate a monumental milestone: the 50th Anniversary of CSWE’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP). The MFP Anniversary Gala was a heartfelt celebration, honoring 5 decades of MFP’s profound impact on social work and its vital contributions to advancing the profession.

The evening included a captivating historical tribute that traced MFP’s journey over the years, highlighting the program’s lasting influence and its pioneering fellows—both past and present. Please find the video tribute below and share it with your networks.

Throughout the evening, we celebrated our alumni and current fellows who have paved the way as innovators and trailblazers in both research and clinical practice.

Several outstanding individuals were honored for their achievements, including:

Emerging Doctoral Scholar Award: Durrell M. Washington Sr., MSW


Emerging MSW Scholar Award: Quanita "Q" Hailey, MSW


MFP Social Work Excellence Award: Antonio Garcia, PhD, MSW


A special highlight of the evening was the tribute to Dr. E. Aracelis Francis, whose steadfast leadership of MFP has guided more than 300 BIPOC social workers to achieve doctoral degrees in social work. Dr. Francis’s words inspired everyone present, as she reflected on the MFP’s rich history and shared her hopes for its bright future. It was a moment of gratitude, celebration, and looking forward to new possibilities.

The gala was filled with music, dancing, and joy as current fellows, alumni, former MFP directors, and CSWE staff joined in honoring the fellowship’s legacy and future. Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who have been part of the MFP’s journey. Here’s to many more years of advancing social work together!

The MFP team would like to thank our amazing sponsors for making MFP events at APM a reality. Thank you:

• Boston College School of Social Work
• Boston University School of Social Work
• Brown School at Washington University
• Case Western Reserve University-Mandel School
• Columbia University School of Social Work
• Fordham University
• GADE: Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work
• Howard University School of Social Work
• Kesslyn Brade Stennis and The PhD Consultants
• Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Social Work
• NASW Assurance Services, Inc.
• Norfolk State University
• North Carolina State University – School of Social Work
• Preferra Insurance Company Risk Retention Group 
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Saint Louis University
• The Ohio State University
• University of Central Florida School of Social Work 
• University of Illinois Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work
• University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice
• University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
• University of Tennessee College of Social Work
• University of Washington School of Social Work
• Winthrop University

The MFP team would also like to thank our gracious donors for their contributions and making MFP events at APM a reality. Thank you:

• Bronwyn Cross-Denny
• Jorge Delva
• Meripa Godinet
• Christa Gilliam
• Makeba Green
• Schnavia Hatcher
• Anthony Hill
• Jessica Kim
• Dione King
• Sebrena Jackson
• Waldo Johnson
• Jenny Jones
• Maya Lewis
• Michael Monti
• Duy Nguyen
• Tonya Perry
• Jenny Reed
• Clemelia Richardson
• Vanessa Robinson-Dooley
• Cudore Snell
• Adriana Silva
• Felicia Mitchell

MFP’s Legacy 

50 years ago, CSWE’s MFP was awarded a grant by the National Institute of Mental Health to increase the number of minority doctoral students majoring in mental health research. This first award was the catalyst for the program we celebrate today. Please take time to acknowledge those who paved the way with our ongoing MFP Legacy section highlighting those fellows who first were awarded fellowship. Find information on all 15 of the 1975–1976 cohort of MFP doctoral fellows here. Below is one fellow’s biographical profile from when they were a fellow.

“George K. Okazaki was most recently an assistant professor at the University of Hawai'i School of Social Work. He earned his MSW degree there and subsequently worked in public welfare and as a medical social worker. In October he will begin his doctoral studies in social work at the University of Utah.”






 

We Need You! Volunteer With CSWE-MFP 

There are many opportunities to volunteer with CSWE’s MFP this upcoming fellowship year. You do not have to be an MFP alumnus or social work educator to volunteer! Volunteering for the MFP is not time consuming, you get back what you give, and the time to apply is now. Here’s how you can help:

There are many opportunities to volunteer with CSWE’s MFP this upcoming fellowship year. You do not have to be an MFP alumnus or social work educator to volunteer! Volunteering for the MFP is not time consuming; you get back what you give, and the time to apply is now. Here’s how you can help:
1.    Become an application reader: Support the selection of the next cohort of master’s and doctoral MFP fellows!
2.    Mentor a master’s or doctoral student: Support the academic and career development of a student passionate about meeting the needs of BIPOC communities.
3.    Be a guest speaker: Share your subject matter expertise by speaking on one of the topics, requested by incoming students (see below). Alternatively, if there’s a topic you believe to be of value to this group, please reach out to discuss it with our team.

• Abolitionist social work
• Disability-centered social work practice
• Grants 101
• Grief
• Inclusive sex therapy
• Innovative research methods
• Innovative treatment modalities
• LGBTQ+ youth mental health
• Narrative therapy
• Pathways to clinical licensure
• Postgraduation trials and tribulations
• Program evaluation
• Role of social work in reentry
• Social work and the arts
• Strengths-based approaches to working with BIPOC communities
• Supporting international students

Find more information about getting involved and apply today!
 

Interested in Becoming an MFP Fellow?

If you are interested in learning more about the program, and would be interested in applying for the doctoral or MSW fellowships during the 2025–2026 fellowship year, please sign up to be notified once applications open by using the QR codes below:

Update Your Contact Information

Have you changed jobs in the last few years? Changed your primary email address? CSWE’s MFP relies on current contact information for our internal database, which we use to contact alumni and help us prepare our reports for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Please use this link  to share your updated contact information. Additionally, you are encouraged to reach out to MFP alumni you are connected with and request that they share their updated information too. Thank you in advance for supporting MFP team efforts to enhance connectedness in the MFP community.
 

Resources

Positions

Job Posting: Faculty Open Rank (Multiple Positions) - 29237 
Location: Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Find out more and apply.



 

Training

SUD 101 Core Curriculum (2023)

“The 23 modules in this 2023 curriculum provide an overview of evidence-based practices in the prevention, identification, and treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions for a variety of populations.” 

Learn more
 

Fellowship

Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP) 
Funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP) aims to reduce health disparities among ethnic minorities in the United States by supporting the training of ethnic minority graduate students committed to improving the quality of mental health care for these communities.
Learn more and apply here.