What is BHWISE SUDIF?

The BHWISE Substance Use Disorders 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 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. USG (Universities @ Shady Grove) students are also encouraged to apply.

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?

Please attend a SUDIF information session for more information about the program and the application process. (Attendance at information sessions is not mandatory to apply)·

SUDIF INFORMATION SESSIONS

Information Sessions (Online):
Monday, Dec. 8th, 2025 at 12:15pm and 5:15pm
Monday, Jan. 12th, 2026 at 12:15pm and 5:15pm
Tuesday Feb. 17th, 2026 at 12:15pm and 5:15pm
Tuesday, Mar. 10th, 2026, at 12:15pm and 5:15pm

If you would like to attend an upcoming information session to learn more about BHWISE fellowships, please register for your preferred date using the link below:

https://umaryland.zoom.us/meeting/register/P6X6goTSTHKKNAeMdMtUKA#/registration

Application Process
Application Period Opens 11/1/2025 - 3/31/2026

Priority Deadline: February 15, 2026

The following application materials must be submitted NO LATER THAN March 31, 2026 (11:59pm)

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): 

SUDIF Reference Letter (PRIORITY Deadline: 2/15/2026; FINAL Deadline: 3/31/2026. Reference form should be returned directly to fellowship committee at BHWISE@SSW.UMARYLAND.EDU. Applicants should not submit their reference form)”

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