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AAMU Working to Reshape the Landscape of Apprenticeships in Social Work

Dr. Katina Lang-Lindsey and Dr. Sam Choi
October 14, 2023

AAMU Social Work Faculty Join DC Panel on Apprenticeships at HBCUs

AAMU Associate Professor of Social Work Dr. Sam Choi, and AAMU Assistant Professor of Social Work Dr. Katina Lang-Lindsey, were part of a panel discussing “Apprenticeships at HBCUs: Partnering for an Inclusive Workforce,” at the recent Virtual National HBCU Conference in Washington, DC. Lang-Lindsey was invited to discuss the untapped potential of apprenticeships within minority-serving institutions. Choi addressed the partnership for an inclusive workforce and the development of apprenticeships at Minority Serving Institutions.

“The honor of our department being the first registered MSW apprenticeship program marks a pivotal moment in the field of social work education and HBCUs, as it opened a groundbreaking avenue for supporting the social work profession within higher education and created new opportunities for AAMU,” says Choi.

In 2021, the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship (AOA) and the Department of Commerce designated the AAMU Department of Social Work the first registered MSW apprenticeship program in the nation.

“Together with AOA, the AAMU Department of Social Work is on a journey to reshape the landscape of apprenticeships in the field," says Lang-Lindsey. "The goal is to highlight the vital work of minority-serving institutions in the realm of apprenticeships, a mission championed by The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice, in partnership with the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.” 

Through AAMU’s apprenticeship program, second year MSW students receive specialized training as apprentices in behavioral health agencies.

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama has one of the highest opioid prescriptions per person in the country, highlighting the urgent need for skilled social workers to support families grappling with addiction, mental health issues and other challenges," says Choi. "Our department is working to meet that need."

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