In North Carolina, the demand for social workers in the state is growing as substance use and mental health service needs increase. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched the Public Service Leadership Program, a collaboration between the NCDHHS and 25 higher education institutions in the Social Work Coalition on NC Work Development, to help with that demand.
Alongside the announcement of the new program on March 2, the NCDHHS released its first “State of North Carolina’s Mental Health and Substance Use Services Workforce Report” supported by UNC’s Behavior Health Workforce Research Center and Sheps Health Workforce NC. It states that one in five adults in North Carolina face a mental health challenge and 16% of the adult population is impacted by substance use. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Social Work’s Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson noticed the rift in needing to gain people in the field, which she took up the project with her team.
UNC Chapel Hill’s Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Outreach at the School of Social Work, Kathy Colville, has been a social worker for over 20 years, working at various organizations within the state including the Alamance County Health Department. When she first stepped into her role at Chapel Hill, the program was just being mentioned around the school.
“We have a huge workforce gap,” Colville said. “We have 25 programs, but we could be graduating more students. We need more of our students that do graduate with bachelors of social work and master of social work degrees to go into public service jobs. The behavioral health workforce shortage – 97 of our 100 counties are considered in a shortage.”
NCDHHS Director of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services Kelly Crosbie noted that many people who have mental health or substance abuse struggles qualify for Medicaid and disability benefits, but don’t receive the care they need because of stigma or not having the resources in their area. She said some of the biggest demographic users for telehealth were young adult patients who struggled with those needs.
Higher education and online degree discovery platform Research.com states that the average cost for a master’s in social work in North Carolina costs around $10,000 to $15,000 per year. In Decemeber 2025, the NCDHHS launched the Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program, a $20 million initiative to recruit and retain license professionals in mental health, substance abuse, intellectual and development disability and traumatic brain services in rural, underserved communities. Eligible providers may apply for up to $50,000 in educational loan repayment.
“Social work education – even if you’re in state, even if you get some help along the way – it can be a pretty intense financial commitment,” Colville said. “The loan repayment program is intended to help with the very clear reality that very few social work jobs are really high paying jobs, especially when you’re new to the profession. The loans are real. That’s always a really important component of making a social work education accessible.”
Starting in the fall of 2026, Elon University will offer a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, following the university’s efforts in experiential learning among all students.
In January 2026, Gov. Josh Stein visited the Alamance Behavioral Center to emphasize the need for mental health services around the state. In the report produced by the state, they used data from the North Carolina Board of Licenses Clinical Mental Health Counselors to show there are 4.94 clinical mental health counselors in Alamance County per 10,000 people, while Gates County has none at all.
“We are working with a broad population, not just people who might have criminal issues with mental health, but also people who are having depression, anxiety, people who are coping the best they can with issues and they might just need some extra help,” Elon University accreditation coordinator and associate professor of clinical mental health counseling Susan Wasik said. “There are so many different ways that our students and our profession help serve the population and families throughout the area and lots of different things.”
According to NCDHHS, 17.4% of North Carolina adults were found to need substance use treatment, while 78.5% did not receive treatment. Among 10.3% of youth (12 to 17-years-old) that needed substance use treatment, 57.3% did not receive services.
Guilford County Drug and Injury Prevention Manager Amanda Clark helped host Black Balloon Day, a day of remembrance for those who have passed away from drug overdose. Working with both the Guilford County Law Enforcement Assisted Division and nonprofits such as Guilford County Solution to the Opioid Problem, the Guilford County Health Department works with community organizations and social workers to get resources out to people impacted by substance abuse. Clark said stigma is a leading factor as to if patients receive the treatment they need or not.
“Every overdose death is 100% preventable,” Clarks said. “Stigma is something that prevents a lot of people from seeking help when they need it. It prevents a lot of people from telling others what’s going on, something they may be struggling with. This helps reduce the stigma around substance use and around overdose.”
As a service worker, Colville said the biggest thing students and practitioners need to remember to practice is resilience, one of the key work values in the field of social work. She believes that the new program, based out of UNC, Chapel Hill, will help the state achieve its goals for increasing the needs for mental health services in the state, but that it still needs time to build.
“We need resources, like everything else, to be able to educate students,” Colville said. “We need the ability to have classroom space and to be able to hire faculty and all of that. Those are real needs for growth. I feel really confident that we’ll get there, but we’re just getting started right now.”
For resources, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides a 24/7, confidential hotline for those suffering mental and/or substance abuse at 1-800-662-4357. GCSTOP operates various clinics and programs throughout the week. For medical emergencies and/or help with concerns for suicide or mental health crises, contact 911 or 988.