SUDIF

Social Work is Everywhere

BHWISE fellowships was highlighted in the Social Work is Everywhere Podcast. Learn more about the two-year Substance Use Disorders Interventions Fellowship (SUDIF), which provides MSW students specialized training, financial stipends, and dedicated practicum placements in exchange for a two-year postgraduation service commitment in substance use disorder treatment from SUDIF Alumni.
Season 2 Episode 5: Invested in the Behavioral Health and Wellbeing of Communities: BHWISE Fellowship Program

The BHWISE Substance Use Disorder Interventions Fellowship (SUDIF) recruits outstanding social work students entering the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland who are committed to academic excellence and pursuing careers in the substance use treatment field. The current substance use treatment workforce in Maryland is insufficient to meet the treatment needs of individuals with SUDs. Social workers—who provide the majority of behavioral health services—represent a largely untapped workforce for addressing this service gap. With funding through the State of Maryland University System, SUDIF will increase the workforce of clinical social workers providing evidence-based interventions in the substance use treatment field.

The Substance Use Disorder Interventions Fellowship (SUDIF) is a 2-year fellowship for MSW students who wish to pursue a course of study focusing on the treatment of substance use disorders.  SUDIF recipients will be awarded a total stipend of $28,000 ($6,000 per semester in the Foundation year and $8,000 per semester in the Advanced year). 

Fellows agree to participate in specialized training and coursework while attending the MSW program. In return for the training and financial benefits provided by the program, students will commit to working full-time in a substance use disorder treatment program pre-approved by SUDIF for a two-year period post-graduation.

 

Requirements

The SUDIF Fellowship is a two-year commitment. · Students must be entering their Foundation practicum placement in Fall 2027 and must accept the Fellowship for both the Foundation year and Advanced year practicum placements. Students must sign a Commitment Letter stating intent to pursue and accept employment in the Substance Use Disorder field for two years following graduation.

Practicum Experience:

  • Year 1 (Foundation) Practicum: Generalist practicum placement
  • Year 2 (Advanced) Practicum: Advanced practicum placement at SUDIF-approved site serving SUD population

Coursework Training:

  • Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) course
    • Credits: 1 credit
    • Timeline: Year 1, fall or spring semester
  • Neurobiological Basis of Opioid Use Disorders
    • Credits: 1 credit
    • Timeline: Year 1, fall or spring semester
  • Motivational Interviewing Training
    • Credits: No credit
    • Timeline: Summer prior to start of advanced year
  • SWCL 705—Clinical Social Work with Addictive Behavior Patterns
    • Credits: 3 credits
    • Timeline: Year 2, fall or spring semester
  • Six Monthly Integrated Practicum Seminars (IN-PERSON; Baltimore campus; mandatory attendance)
    • Fall: September, October, November
    • Spring: February, March, April
    • Credits: No Credit
    • Timeline: Foundation and Advanced year
Who is Eligible?

Foundation students entering Fall 2027

*Concentration

  • Clinical
  • Clinical/Leadership, Policy, and Social Change

*The fellowship coincides with the foundation and advanced year field placements.
*Student fellows must complete fellowship in 2 consecutive years.

Applicants must demonstrate a career focus in behavioral health, specifically, an interest in substance use disorder treatment. 

Students must be willing to obtain employment in Maryland working with the SUD population for a minimum of two years following graduation.

Practicum Placement

Foundation students will be assigned a generalist placement by the Office of Practicum Education during their first year.

Advanced year students will be assigned a BHWISE-SUDIF approved practicum placement where a large percentage of the population served are individuals with a substance use disorder. A diverse list of placements specifically chosen and reserved for SUDIF fellows will be available for students to request their top three choices..

SOME EXAMPLES OF BHWISE-SUDIF PRACTICUM PLACEMENTS:

Anne Arundel County Health Department--Road to Recovery Program
Ashley Addictions (Harford Co.)
Chrysalis House (AA Co.)
Concerted Care Group (Balto City)
Gaudenzia, Inc. (Multiple locations in MD and D.C.)
Healthcare for the Homeless (Balto City)
Hudson Behavioral Health (Salisbury)
Institutes for Behavior Resources--Recovery Enhanced by Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) (Balto. City)
Johns Hopkins Broadway Center (Baltimore City)
Kolmac - (Annapolis, Columbia, Towson, Lanham, Silver Spring)
MAN ALIVE Treatment Center (Balto City)
Maryland Addiction Recovery Center (MARC) (Balto Co.)
Maryland Treatment Centers (Avery Road---Montgomery Co)
Mountain Manor--Emmitsburg (Frederick)
Newport Academy (Montgomery Co)
Pathways to Housing (D.C.)
Peace Health Center (Balto County)
Powell Recovery Center (Balto City)
Project Chesapeake (AA Co)
Second Chance Care (Montgomery County)
Sheppard Pratt--co-occurring disorders unit (Balto County)
Sinai Hosp Addictions Recovery Program (SHARP) (Balto City)
Sober Truth (Carroll Co)
University Health Center--Substance Use Intervention & Treatment Programs (PG Co.)
The Ranch (Frederick County)
The Valley in Rockville (Montgomery County)
Walden Behavioral Health (St. Mary's Co)
Wells House (Frederick)
Whitman Walker Health (D.C.)

How Do I Apply?

Application Process
Application Period Opens 11/1/2026 - 3/31/2027
Deadline: March 31, 2027

The following application materials must be submitted NO LATER THAN March 31, 2027 (11:59pm). Applicants are encouraged to submit application documents early.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: Download the files to your computer first; complete the forms, then attach your saved files to your application. **MAC users should not use Preview to complete their application as it results in us getting a blank document.**

To be eligible for BHWISE SUDIF, you cannot be enrolled in any other fellowship programs (e.g., International Practicum placement, Child Welfare Fellowship, SUDWE).

To complete your fellowship application, the following documents are required (see attachments below): 

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