Ima Hogg Scholarships for Graduate Social Work Students

Texas faces a critical mental health workforce shortage, ranking far below the national average in the number of mental health professionals per 100,000 residents. In 2009, 173 counties in Texas were designated as mental health profession shortage areas, and 40 Texas counties did not have a single social worker, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The problem is likely to worsen in the future.

The scholarship program was created in 1956 at the request of founder Miss Ima Hogg to address the need for more trained social workers to provide quality mental health services in Texas. The foundation will award one-year scholarships of $5,000 each to twelve talented and dedicated graduate social work students in Texas. Each accredited or awaiting accreditation graduate school of social work is invited to recommend one student to receive an Ima Hogg Scholarship. Applicants must be entering the second year of studies or a one-year accelerated program in an accredited graduate social work program in Texas and must be nominated by the head of their program. Students should contact their graduate program's office for more information.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Be accepted to one of 12 Texas graduate schools of social work that are accredited or pending accreditation by the national Council on Social Work Education.

Plan to enter a one-year advanced standing program or the second year of a two-year program in fall 2012.

Be nominated for the scholarship by the dean or director of their graduate program. Each school may nominate two applicants.

Demonstrate a strong commitment to pursuing a career in providing mental health services after graduation.

Contacts

School nominations: contact your school's dean or director
General information: contact Program Officer Stephany Bryan, (512) 471-7628