Cal U awarded $1.3 million grant involving opioid crisis
California University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a $1.3 million federal grant to help graduate students in programs that deal with the nation鈥檚 opioid crisis.
The money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide 27 stipends of $10,000 to students seeking careers in drug addiction recovery and prevention in urban or rural settings, the university announced.
鈥淭his is awesome for out students,鈥� said Sheri Boyle, chairman of the social work department.
She said some of the students who qualify for the stipends have families and are required to perform many hours of unpaid advanced practicums.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge bonus,鈥� Boyle said.
The money will be distributed over three years and also will be used for training in the community. It鈥檚 the second time Cal U has been awarded such a grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration Opioid Workforce Expansion program, said Cal U spokeswoman Wendy Mackall.
鈥淐al U鈥檚 counselor education and social work programs address addiction, but this grant will really help our students get that additional training in substance use disorders,鈥� said Elizabeth Gruber, chairman of the counselor education department.
The project will help students who are working toward a degree in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling or social work.