The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University has been awarded $1,624,654, the largest allocation granted to any social work program in the state, from the $3 million appropriated by the 57th New Mexico Legislature and signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for Fiscal Year 2026. The funds are designated to expand financial aid and paid practicum opportunities for students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work at public and tribal colleges across the state.
Scholarships and paid practicums are critical strategies not only for reducing financial strain but for enhancing economic wellbeing and long-term workforce retention in a profession that is essential to New Mexico’s health, child welfare, education, and justice systems.
“This legislative appropriation is a blessing to our students, many of whom are striving to make ends meet by working full-time while pursuing their social work education,” said Anna Nelson, PhD, LCSW, Dean of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work. “This academic year, we will be able to provide practicum stipends and scholarships to assist our students who are New Mexico residents, opportunities that will lead to strengthening our profession and our communities.”
The urgent need for these supports is underscored by the 2024 Social Workers of New Mexico Survey, which revealed that 35% to 43% of social workers in the state are not paid enough to meet their financial needs, often working multiple jobs and carrying significant student loan debt. The same is true in national research conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). And the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) recently reaffirmed its support for equitable approaches to paid field placements, highlighting the critical need to remove financial barriers to completing social work education.
The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work, the state’s oldest, most culturally grounded social work program, is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts, ensuring that the next generation of social workers is prepared, supported, and representative of the communities they serve. To learn more about the student-led national movement Payments for Placements, please see: https://www.payment4placements.org/.