MILLERSVILLE, Pa., Aug. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- To help combat the
opioid crisis, Millersville University
students who are interested in becoming experts in addiction and
recovery will receive $840,000 in
scholarships, thanks to a grant from the Federal Health Resources
and Services Administration. Dr. Alex
Redcay, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at
Millersville University, is the
principal investigator on the $1.35
million three-year grant.
The majority of the grant is 84 scholarships for $10,000 each to Millersville students enrolled in the Master
of Social Work (MSW) or the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
starting this fall and lasting for three years.
"The grant will alleviate the financial burden for our students,
while at the same time providing the opportunity to receive
specialized knowledge and to develop their expertise in addiction;
prevention, treatment and recovery," says Redcay. "Our community is
in desperate need for professionals who understand the disease of
addiction and how to help, not hinder, recovery efforts. Our
students will come out with marketable skills and jobs!"
While the grant title is "Opioid Workforce Expansion Program,"
Redcay says it's not just about opioids. "It's about all
addictions. We want to meet the needs of the community," says
Redcay.
"Supporting a vibrant regional economy by educating and training
a skilled workforce is a top priority for Millersville University," says President
Daniel Wubah. "As part of our public
mission, we must continue to respond to the needs of our community
by reducing costs and developing new academic programs that
contribute directly to the demand for a highly qualified workforce.
This program enables us to accomplish that goal."
The first scholarships will be given out this fall to eligible
students. "We want MSW and DNP students who are interested in
working in the addiction field to apply," says Redcay. "We are very
interested in students, or potential students, who are in recovery.
We'll work with that person because they understand the field
better than others."
In addition to the scholarships, the grant will pay for three
training events per semester related to prevention, treatment and
recovery and a new program coordinator to schedule and arrange the
events. The events will be for the scholarship recipients and the
community. "We will have trainers to help our students become
experts in addiction recovery to the best of their ability," says
Redcay.
Contact:
Janet Kacskos
(717) 871-7870
janet.kacskos@millersville.edu
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SOURCE Millersville University