POCATELLO – Idaho State University (ISU) and Umpqua Community College (UCC) have announced a collaboration aimed at addressing the rural mental health crisis by expanding social work education to underserved areas. Through this partnership, students at UCC will have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) from ISU without leaving their local communities. The program is designed to help meet the growing demand for trained social workers in rural areas, where mental health services are critically needed.
ISU President Robert W. Wagner emphasized the importance of the collaboration in meeting critical health care needs across Idaho and Oregon. The partnership will provide UCC students a seamless transition from their associate degree to a bachelor’s degree, with the option to pursue further education through ISU’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. UCC Dean of Advanced Medical Program Partnerships, Randy Hubbard, highlighted the program’s potential to open doors for students to enter high-demand, high-wage careers in behavioral health.
The initiative also addresses a shortage of licensed behavioral health professionals in southwest Oregon. Dr. Greg Brigham, CEO of Adapt Integrated Health Care, praised the collaboration as a crucial step in building a workforce capable of providing high-quality care in rural communities. Scholarships covering tuition, books, and learning materials, made possible by grants from the City of Roseburg and the State of Oregon, are available to support students in the program.
This partnership aligns with ISU’s mission to expand access to health care education in rural areas and UCC’s commitment to developing local health care infrastructure while offering valuable career opportunities for students.