NNews-Aug-2025

20 August 2025 R utgers University School of Social Work (SSW) developed its IntensiveWeekend (IW) program to enable full-time practitioners to earn their Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degrees while continuing their employment. In fact, the program was created 20 years ago through the collaboration of NJAMHAA and Ericka Deglau, PhD, MSW, who served as the ProgramDirector, as well as a Professor of Teaching at Rutgers SSW, until she retired in January 2022. NJAMHAA Board and staff leadership provided Dr. Deglau and her teamwith guidance and connections to providers throughout the membership to share input on the program structure and courses that students need to advance in their careers. Rutgers Intensive Weekend MSW Program Benefits Behavioral Healthcare Practitioners and Organizations “NJAMHAA played a key role in supporting the conceptualization of the IntensiveWeekend program. It has been a wonderful partnership that aligns perfectly with our goal of developing the workforce and using innovative ways tomake it feasible—in both time and cost—for those already in the field to advance their careers. The programhas been successful even beyondwhat has been imagined,” saidDebra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO of NJAMHAA. “We have the highest rate of student placement in behavioral health care, followed by childwelfare. The IW programwas originally developed for childwelfare programs, but the funding was cut andwe expanded the program to all of human services,” said Amy Strickler, LMSW, LSW, Co-Chair of the Education Council and Assistant Director of the IWProgramand Assistant Professor at Rutgers SSW. “It’s the onlyMSWprogram inNew Jersey that is designed for and targets people employed in human services whowant to remain employed while they attain anMSW.” Amy Strickler, LMSW, LSW Co-Chair of the Education Council and Assistant Director of the IW Program and Assistant Professor continued on page 21