NNews-Aug-2025

August 2025 21 Benefits for Individual Practitioners Benefits for Employers The IWprogram is valuable for organizations, as well as individual staff members. The greatest benefit relates directly to one of the most difficult challenges employers have been contending with for many years: staff retention. “The employees have proven performance in the behavioral healthcare organizations and they have an incentive to earn their MSWdegrees,” Strickler said. This is especially true if the organizations are able to reimburse their staff for the tuition. “The students are likely to continue working at those organizations after they get their MSW degrees, so in addition toworkforce development, IWstudents are already committed toworkingwith the behavioral health population and to becoming leaders in the field,” added Jack B. Lewis, DSW, LCSW, Director of the IW Program and Associate Professor. “ Many of our applicants found a good fit working in the social services field and only then consider pursuing a professional degree in social work. This program advances their work by providing them with the skills and leadership abilities to excel in the field. ” “Over the years, there have been multiple iterations of the program format based on students’ input on their needs. Currently, we are undergoing strategic planning to best meet the needs of the post-traditional students in both the curriculum and the overall structure,” Strickler said. Strickler explained that the IW Program seeks to serve the “post- traditional population”, those who must maintain employment and typically have significant family responsibilities. “The IWProgram enables them to continue working in their communities while pursuing the professional degree,” she said. “They have been away from academia for a long time and some are the first ones in their families to earn Master’s degrees. We provide wraparound support from day one to promote their success.” Strengthening Partnerships for Rutgers SSWand Beyond Dr. Lewis, Strickler and their team alsowork with behavioral healthcare providers to place students in internships and practicums, and ensure these experiences are of the greatest value for the students, the agencies and the individuals they serve. To strengthen these partnerships not only for Rutgers SSW, but also for other schools with behavioral healthcare related programs, they recently took on the roles of co- chairs of NJAMHAA’s Education Council, which is featured on page 27. “In today’s environment with the workforce crisis, the Intensive Weekend programplays an even more critical role in retaining current employees and building a pipeline for NJAMHAAmember agencies and the entire field. We are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Deglau, who founded the program, and of Dr. Lewis and Amy Strickler, who are doing a stellar job carrying on and enhancing this vital program,” Dr. Wentz said. Jack B. Lewis, DSW, LCSW Director of the IWProgram and Associate Professor continued from page 20