MSW Programs in Idaho

Idaho, also known as the “gem state,” produces 72 different types of precious stones and gems, several of which are not found anywhere else in the world. In addition to precious gems, the state is a national top producer of potatoes, trout and lentils. The state’s economy depends on manufacturing, mining, agriculture, food processing, tourism and timber (1).

Winter sports draw people to Idaho, as do the rivers (Idaho has the most miles of river of any state in the union), mountains and the nation’s largest herds of elk. Hunters, campers, hikers and nature lovers revel in the beautiful parks and campgrounds (2).

Idaho Social Issues

According to the US Census Bureau, the state is primarily rural with a population of 1,612,136 and population density of 19 people per square mile, which is well below the national average (3). Idaho has few minority populations; Latinos constitute the largest minority group at slightly over 11 percent. The state has a larger than average Native American population; Native Americans make up 1.7 percent of the state’s population (the national average is 1.2 percent) (4).

According to SAMHSA, Idaho has a higher than average percentage of the population that is diagnosed with mental illness. Approximately 20.59 percentage of the population has been diagnosed with mental illness (the national average is 18.19 percent); 4.67 percent of the population is diagnosed with one or more severe mental illnesses (in comparison, only 3.97 percent of the nation is diagnosed with severe mental illness) (5). The Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention reports that the state of Idaho has the fourth highest suicide rate in the country, which has lead to initiatives such as the Idaho Awareness to Action Youth Suicide Prevention Project (6).

If you are interested in working as a clinical social worker, you will find opportunities in state: opportunities in this sector are predicted to increase at a rate of 29 percent per year (7).

In 2013, the state of Idaho evaluated the state’s healthcare needs and developed the Idaho Statewide Healthcare Innovation Plan, an initiative to tackle the state’s most pressing healthcare problems (8). The task force identified the following as concerns:

• Mental health
• Tobacco use (Idaho ranks as the fifteenth highest use of tobacco)
• Childhood immunization (Idaho ranks 43rd in the nation for immunization rates, meaning 42 states have higher percentages of the population immunized)
• Opiate abuse (Idaho has the fourth highest non-medical use of prescription pain medications)

The state is mostly rural and is home to several Native American populations. If you are interested in working with rural or Native American populations, you will find opportunities here.

Studying Social Work in Idaho

Are you considering studying in Idaho? The 2014 US News & World Report graduate school search points to two graduate schools of social work in the state: Boise State University’s School of Social Work and Northwest Nazarene University’s graduate program in the Department of Social Work (9). Boise State University offers traditional full time and part time MSW opportunities (10). Northwest Nazarene University offers a Christian-based education and a focus on the roles faith-based social work organizations play in the community (11).

After you get your degree, you may want to look into loan forgiveness possibilities. The National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC) absolves social workers that work in “Health Professional Shortage Areas” (HPSAs) of portions of their student loan debt. You may qualify for as much as $20,000 of student loan relief per year for up to two years, if you work a job that qualifies for the program.

Employment

According to the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor, child, family and school social work jobs are expected to expand by 18 percent by 2020 (12). Healthcare social work positions are expected to grow by 41 percent, which is well above the national average (13).

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that 2,700 social workers are employed in the state of Idaho, with just under half of them working as child, family or school social workers. The 1,250 social workers employed in this sector make a median salary of $40,470. The highest paying jobs in this sector go to social workers employed in the Boise area (14).

Mental health and substance abuse social workers in the state make a median salary of $42,280, with the highest paying jobs going to social workers going to those working in the Idaho Falls area (who make a median salary of $53,180) (15).

Healthcare social workers are the best paid in the state. They can expect to make a median salary of $49,490. Wages across the state are pretty even regardless of location (16).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• National Association of Social Workers, Idaho Chapter
• Idaho Board of Social Worker Examiners
• School Social Workers of Idaho
• Idaho Society for Clinical Social Work

Universities offering Master’s in Social Work Programs in Idaho

• Boise State University (MSW Program)
• Northwest Nazarene University (MSW Program)

Sources Cited

1. Facts About Idaho, 2014. Visit Idaho. http://www.visitidaho.org/facts-about-idaho/
2. Idaho, 2014. Info Please. http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/idaho.html
3. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16000.html
4. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16000.html
5. 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
6. Idaho Institute of Rural Health, 2011. Idaho State University. http://www.isu.edu/irh/
7. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=16&search=Go#SectionOp3
8. Idaho Statewide Healthcare Innovation Plan, 2013. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Portals/0/Medical/SHIP/IdahoSHIP.pdf 
9. 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=idaho&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
10. Graduate MSW Program, 2014. Boise State University. http://hs.boisestate.edu/socialwork/graduate/
11. Masters in Social Work, 2014. Northwest Nazarene University. http://www.nnu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/social-work
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=16&search=Go#SectionOp3
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=16&search=Go#SectionOp3
14. Statewide Statistics for Idaho, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
15. Statewide Statistics for Idaho, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
16. Statewide Statistics for Idaho, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.