MSW Programs in West Virginia

West Virginia, the “Mountain State,” is mostly rural. Nearly 75 percent of West Virginia is forested. It has a population of about 1.8 million, making it the 41st largest state in the nation and the 38th most populous. Charleston is the state capital of West Virginia and is the largest city in the state with about 50,800 people (1). Besides its forests and mountains, West Virginia is known for its coal mining because it produces 15 percent of the nation’s total coal production (2).

A State With Multiple Challenges

As of 2012, the state’s rate of foster care entry (rate per 1,000) is 8.6, which is more than double the national average rate of 3.9 (3). The state also has a higher-than-average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness. About 21.38 percent of the population is diagnosed with a mental illness (which is higher than the national average of 18.19 percent) and 5.48 percent are diagnosed with a severe mental illness (4).

The state also has a higher-than-average percentage of its population living in poverty (17.6 percent, compared to the national average of 14.9 percent) and a higher-than-average percentage of the population age 65 or older (17.3 percent, which is higher than the national average of 14.1 percent) (5). The median household income is $40,400, which is also lower than the national average of $53,046 (6).

Substance abuse is a significant problem in the state. West Virginia has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in the country, and nine out of ten of overdose deaths involve at least one prescription drug. More West Virginia residents die from drug overdose than from car accidents (7). Methamphetamine abuse and meth labs are a problem in the state. Authorities seized 530 meth labs in 2013 and have already (as of July 2014) seized 207 labs in 2014. CVS pharmacies in West Virginia have stopped selling several over-the-counter medications that contain pseudoephedrine since it is used in meth labs and is also a frequently abused substance (8).

Only 18 percent of West Virginians have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which puts them dead last in the nation for higher education (9).

Finding an MSW Program

If you want to study to become a social worker in West Virginia, your options are limited. According to the 2014 US News & World Report, you can get a MSW at West Virginia University’s School of Social Work (10). If you choose to attend West Virginia University, you will want to check out the scholarships and fellowships available for MSW students (11). For example, there is a $10,000 stipend awarded through the Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Training Program (IMBTP), a three-year program perfect for anyone interested in becoming a mental health or substance abuse social workers.

If you’re having trouble paying for graduate school, you will want to check out the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). If, after graduation, you can find work in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), you could qualify for loan forgiveness. This means that if you can find a job that qualifies, you could have up to $20,000 per year of student loan debt waived for two years. Check out the eligibility requirements before you take your first job as a social worker and see if you can find one that qualifies for loan forgiveness.

Plenty of Work to Do

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there is a high demand for healthcare social workers in the state. As of 2013, 740 healthcare social workers are employed in the state (12), and job growth for this sector is predicted to increase at a rate of 26 percent a year (13). The median salary for a healthcare worker in the state is $42,780. Healthcare social workers are some of the best paid social workers in West Virginia (14).

Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn a median salary of $30,030. However, if you find work in Charleston, the median salary is $41,190, and if you can find work in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area, the median salary is $54,180. As you can see, location makes a significant difference in salary in the state (15).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• West Virginia Social Work License
• National Association of Social Workers, West Virginia Chapter
• West Virginia Board of Social Work

Master’s in Social Work Programs in West Virginia

• West Virginia University (Master’s in Social Work – MSW)

Sources Cited

1. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. US Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html
2. West Virginia Facts and Trivia, 2014. 50 States.com. http://www.50states.com/facts/westva.htm#.U7w5ro1dXgI
3. Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data, 2012. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data/overview
4. State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness, 2012. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k14/NSDUH170/sr170-mental-illness-state-estimates-2014.htm
5. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.htm
6. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html
7. Conquering Substance Abuse in West Virginia. West Virginia State Website. http://www.governor.wv.gov/initiatives/satf/Pages/default.aspx
8. CVS Stops Sales of Cold Medicines With Pseudoephedrine in West Virginia, 2014. Tech Times. http://www.techtimes.com/articles/9944/20140708/cvs-stops-sales-of-cold-medicines-with-pseudoephedrine-in-west-virginia.htm
9. America’s Best and Worst Educated States, 2012. Fox Business. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/10/15/americas-best-and-worst-educated-states/
10. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=West+Virginia&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
11. Funding and Fellowships, 2014. West Virginia University School of Social Work. http://socialwork.wvu.edu/graduate/school-funding-and-fellowships
12. Statewide Statistics for West Virginia, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=54&search=Go
14. Statewide Statistics for West Virginia, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
15. Statewide Statistics for West Virginia, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.