(North Canton, OH – Aug. 7, 2023) – New at Stark State College and Ohio’s other two- and four-year colleges and universities, the Great Minds Fellowship is a program providing financial assistance to students within two years of graduating with degrees or certificates in social work fields. Stark State offers majors in human and social services and chemical dependency.

Great Minds Fellows at Stark State and other participating colleges and universities will be eligible for up to $10,000 during their undergraduate and graduate studies for scholarship opportunities to assist with

• costs of obtaining their degrees or certificates
• paid internships at one of Ohio’s Community Behavioral Health Centers at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• costs of required license and certification preparation and exams and other costs related to the degree or certificate.

“Due to the workforce shortage in behavioral healthcare careers, students working on their human and social services or chemical dependency degrees may be eligible for Great Minds Fellowship scholarship monies to assist them in completing their degrees and becoming a social work assistant or a chemical dependency counselor assistant,” said Shari Shiepis, Stark State human services department chair. “These practical, hands-on programs thoroughly prepare students to work in the behavioral healthcare field.”

Stark State prepares students to enter these fields in as little as one year.

Mental health services are vital to the overall well-being of citizens in our communities and in Ohio, said Lada Gibson-Shreve, PhD, Stark State’s provost and chief academic officer. She’s pleased, she said, that Gov. Mike DeWine allocated funding to support students entering the field of mental health services, community mental health providers and citizens facing multiple stressors.

“The health and success of Ohio’s families and communities depends on our ability to recruit, train, and retain the best talent to ensure Ohio has the most robust behavioral health workforce possible,” Gov. DeWine said. “Behavioral health care workers are a valued and vital part of our healthcare system, and our efforts today are focused on helping to quickly infuse more qualified professionals into behavioral health care workplaces throughout the state.”

Funding is available for fall semester, which begins Aug. 28 at Stark State. Contact Shari Shiepis at 330-494-6170 ext. 4474 or sshiepis@starkstate.edu or visit starkstate.edu/human-social-services or starkstate.edu/chemical-dependency.