HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley Awards More Than $400,000 in Local Scholarships in 2023

In Effort to Grow Local Healthcare Workforce, HealthForce Partners Commits to Educating & Creating Clear Career Pathways for Students

STOCKTON, Calif., August 30th, 2023 – HealthForce Partners, a healthcare sector partnership for the Northern San Joaquin Valley, is pleased to announce its scholarship initiative, which will award more than $400,000 in scholarships to more than 30 local behavioral health students pursuing careers in social work, clinical counseling as well as marriage and family therapy.

“As we continue on our mission to catalyze career opportunities for local residents, we are committed to fostering a thriving, local healthcare workforce ecosystem,” said HealthForce Partners Executive Director, Paul Lanning. “We are proud to partner with University of the Pacific and Stanislaus State University and provide scholarships for San Joaquin County residents to ultimately help alleviate workforce shortages and enhance the well-being of our communities.”

The scholarships are provided to the San Joaquin Behavioral Health Workforce Partnership for master’s programs at University of the Pacific as well as Stanislaus State University.

“We are delighted to collaborate with San Joaquin Behavioral Health Workforce Partnership on this worthwhile initiative to address the shortage of behavioral healthcare workers in San Joaquin County,” notes Christina Gilbert, HealthForce Partners County Director. “We are fully aligned with the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors’ vision of being community leaders in both service and innovation, and are proud to contribute to that vision through our scholarship program.”

University of the Pacific scholarships will be awarded annually for the next two years to students in the School of Health Sciences’ Master of Social Work program and Benerd College’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. Stanislaus State University scholarships will be awarded for the upcoming academic year to students in various programs, including Master of Social Work; Master of Science in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy; and Master of Arts in Counseling, Professional Clinical Counselor. All scholarships will be awarded to students beginning in the fall semester.

"I applied for this scholarship because working in San Joaquin County is incredibly important to me. The support and encouragement I received from HealthForce Partners in helping students like me become professionals within our local community, allowing us to help our fellow residents, is truly invaluable. I'm grateful for being awarded this scholarship," expressed Alejandra de Avellar, Stanislaus State University student and a proud recipient of this scholarship.

In addition to the scholarship initiative, HealthForce Partners works with San Joaquin Delta College students in the Psychiatric Technician program covering all costs associated with the required uniforms for each of the 27 students in the program this year, with plans for 2024 as well.

About HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley

HealthForce Partners brings together top executives and operational leaders from healthcare, education, and workforce development to craft innovative programs and systems change strategies that address the staffing priorities of employers and expand career opportunities for community residents in the North San Joaquin Valley region, including the counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced. By facilitating collaborative planning, the Partnership is changing the way healthcare employers, educational institutions, and workforce development agencies work together. To learn more visit www.healthforcepartners.net