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A 9379

Establishes a master of social work paid field practicum pilot program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Berger and 9 co-sponsors

New York creates a paid MSW field work stipend of 450 hours totaling 4500, awarded to eligible students doing NY-based field work to boost workforce and diversity.

PRINT NUMBER 9379B
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Bill Summary · A 9379

Summary of Bill A. 9379 (2025-2026) – Master of Social Work Paid Field Work Pilot Program

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a paid field work pilot program within the New York Mental Hygiene Law to support master of social work (MSW) students.
  • The program provides stipends to eligible MSW students for their first 450 hours of field work, with the aim of expanding the pipeline of licensed social workers in New York, improving diversity and representation, and mitigating student debt while evaluating program impacts on the workforce and communities.

Key provisions and changes

  • New authority and program establishment

    • Adds a new section, § 7.49, to the Mental Hygiene Law to create and administer a Master of Social Work Paid Field Work Pilot Program.
    • The Office (presumably the Office responsible for mental hygiene programs) will administer stipends within appropriations.

  • Eligibility and scope

    • Eligible students must be enrolled in an accredited MSW program registered by the NY Department of Education (or deemed substantially equivalent by the DOE) and must perform services as part of their required field work.
    • Field work must be conducted in New York State.

  • Stipend details and timing

    • Commences in Fall 2025.
    • Provides a stipend of $4,500 total (calculated as $10 per hour for 450 hours) for the first 450 hours of field work.
    • Stipends are disbursed monthly and automatically renew annually until the student completes 450 hours or through the spring semester of 2029, whichever comes first.
    • Upon graduation, participating students must agree to work in a social work capacity in New York State for one year.
    • If a student receives $4,500 or more in funding for field work from any other source (grants, scholarships, fellowships, or work-based placements), they become ineligible for this stipend. If the other funding is less than $4,500, the stipend covers the difference.

  • Program promotion and public awareness

    • The Office will provide informational materials to NY MSW programs about the pilot.
    • Participating schools must conduct a public awareness campaign informing students that the first 450 hours of field work will be compensated.
    • Funds for the public awareness campaign are separate and not deducted from intern funding.

  • Data collection and reporting

    • The Office will annually collect and publish data on:
    • Licensed MSW applications before vs. during the pilot.
    • Statewide MSW enrollment trends.
    • Demographic characteristics of MSW students (age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, religion, geography, representation, etc.).
    • Retention, attrition, dropout, and degree conferral rates for MSW programs.
    • Matriculation and enrollment status impacts.
    • Student debt changes related to stipend funding.
    • Impacts on social work wages and workforce retention after graduation.
    • Impacts on field work sites and their capacity to provide services.
    • Mental, emotional, physical, and financial health of students.
    • Cost-benefit analysis, including the economic value of services provided by interns.
    • Local economic impacts and broader economic development.
    • Any additional relevant metrics.

  • Evaluation and recommendations

    • A formal study will be conducted, and a report detailing the program’s efficacy will be produced for the Governor and Legislature, and made public no later than December 1, 2029.
    • The report will include recommendations on expanding the program to increase the number of social workers, improve representation, mitigate student debt, and enhance labor conditions after graduation.

  • Funding and appropriations

    • Funding for the pilot is subject to annual appropriations and will be adjusted each fiscal year to reflect changes in MSW enrollment and prior year enrollment compared to the current year.

Who is affected

  • Targeted beneficiaries:
    • MSW students enrolled in DOE-registered and Council on Social Work Education–accredited programs (or substantial equivalents) who are required to complete field work, and who perform that work in New York.
  • Stakeholders:
    • MSW programs in New York (colleges and universities offering MSW degrees).
    • Social work students eligible for the stipend.
    • Employers and field placement sites in New York providing MSW field work.
    • New York communities and clients served by MSW students during field placements.
    • State agencies overseeing education, health, and mental hygiene program funding.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Pilot start: Fall 2025 semester (first 450 hours of field work).
  • Maximum stipend period: Through the spring semester of 2029 (for those still within the four-year window or until 450 hours are completed).
  • Reporting deadline for the efficacy study: No later than December 1, 2029.
  • Rulemaking: Administrative provisions and necessary rule or regulation changes can be enacted on or before the effective date to implement the act.

Summary in plain terms

This bill creates a paid internship-style stipend program for MSW students in New York, paying $4,500 for the first 450 hours of required field work for eligible students who study and work in New York. The aim is to encourage more students to enter and complete MSW programs, reduce debt, and increase the number of licensed social workers in the state. The Office will track a wide range of outcomes and publish findings by 2029, with potential recommendations to expand the program. Funding is annual and contingent on appropriations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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