Syed Combats Social Worker Shortage by Backing Financial Support for Hiring Nonprofits

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program backed by state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, would combat Illinois’ shortage of social workers by providing financial support for nonprofits hiring licensed clinical social workers.

“Our limited roster of social workers has been making life harder for Illinoisans—children and families especially—who need support navigating our system of human services that provide so many important programs to people in-need,” Syed said. “By creating financial incentives for nonprofits to help address our state’s shortage of qualified social workers, this measure will go a long way towards filling an important gap that has remained open for too long. Illinois families need comprehensive assistance and social workers help meet that need.”

Assistance for Illinois families has been a priority for Syed, and her backing of House Bill 3511 continues that trend. The Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program offers grants to nonprofit associations to hire licensed clinical social workers as well as to provide group clinical supervision to social workers seeking to fulfill the supervised clinical experience requirements.

This measure has the support of numerous social workers organizations and received unanimous support in the House. It is currently being heard in the Senate.