The Department of Social Work at UNC Pembroke has secured a four-year, $2.3 million federal grant renewal to continue and expand the OPTIMISE program. The program trains graduate students to serve in integrated behavioral healthcare settings across rural North Carolina. The award comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program.

The OPTIMISE program is now in its second grant cycle. It prepares students from the social work, counseling and now occupational therapy disciplines for field placements in medically underserved areas, building a behavioral health workforce ready to serve the region's most vulnerable populations.

“The renewal of this $2.3 million, four-year grant marks a significant milestone for our department. While the program already includes social work, clinical mental health and school counseling students, expanding the program during this cycle to include occupational therapy students allows us to further enhance the interprofessional collaboration that is at the heart of this initiative,” said Chair of the Department of Social Work Dr. Summer Gainey Woodside in a press release. “By fostering partnerships across disciplines, we are better equipped to address the complex needs of our communities and prepare the next generation of practitioners to make a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare.”

The Department of Occupational Therapy joins the grant as a new partner in 2025.