The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has launched a new initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of mental health professionals in the border region. With financial support from the LaMantia family, UTEP’s Department of Social Work began a program in 2024 to help Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates pursue licensure as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs).
To become an LCSW in Texas, graduates must complete at least 100 hours of supervised clinical practice under a licensed supervisor. The average cost for this supervision is about $100 per hour, resulting in expenses that can reach $10,000—an amount many students cannot afford.
“There is the need for increasing the mental health workforce, particularly in El Paso,” said Jason Mallonee, D.S.W., clinical assistant professor and one of the program’s supervisors. “We recognized quickly that a big reason for the shortage was the cost associated with paying for clinical supervision; it’s a particularly salient barrier for recent graduates.”
The new program reduces costs for participants to $20 per hour by using funds from a $130,000 gift from the LaMantia family. UTEP faculty members Jason Mallonee, Viridiana Ortiz, Ph.D., and Yahell Zúñiga, MSW provide supervision that meets state requirements.
Among those benefiting from the program is Daniel Munoz, LMSW, who previously worked in law enforcement and now focuses his clinical work on veterans and first responders. “The sessions have been crucial for expanding my clinical toolkit,” he said. “Being able to connect and learn with a group of like-minded individuals has been invaluable for my growth.”
Marissa Cena, LMSW, another participant working with at-risk youth, also highlighted the importance of feedback from her supervisor and peers: “It is reassurance that I am progressing in my skills and that I am making the right calls when it comes to the services and treatment I am providing,” Cena said.
Since its launch, 14 MSW graduates have participated in UTEP’s supervision program. Collectively they provide hundreds of hours each month in pro-bono clinical care throughout El Paso—often outside their regular jobs—to clients who might not otherwise receive mental health services.
“Over time, I have been able to witness my supervisees develop an increasing sense of confidence in their ability to help people manage or resolve their life and mental health challenges,” said Mallonee. “They show up for the community and for their own personal and professional growth.”
Ortiz added: “There’s something special about witnessing that moment when their self-doubt turns into trust — trust in their skills, in their judgment, and in their ability to truly help others.”
“Expanding access to mental health services is very personal for our family,” said Lisa Peisen on behalf of the LaMantia family. “LCSWs are key to ensuring El Pasoans have qualified mental health professionals, and through this program we hope to dramatically increase the number of LCSWs in our community. We thank UTEP for seeing our vision and creating this unique program for their students.”
More information about participating in UTEP’s social work supervision program can be found on its official website: https://www.utep.edu/chs/sw/resources/lcsw-supervision-program.html
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