Embedded Files
Recruitment
Recruitment
Candidates must meet the criteria below.
Note that the Hawai'i Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Program is giving preference to rural Kanaka Maoli candidates.
See the home page for the application link.
KP Accelerator Recruitment Flyer.pdfTestimonials
Testimonials
I am so grateful for this program and how it is eliminating barriers to licensure. I wasn't sure I had the capacity to pursue my LCSW. Just thinking about navigating all the requirements for licensure coupled with life happenings, would lead me to burnout and self-doubt.
I am so grateful for this program and how it is eliminating barriers to licensure. I wasn't sure I had the capacity to pursue my LCSW. Just thinking about navigating all the requirements for licensure coupled with life happenings, would lead me to burnout and self-doubt.
Within the program, I feel 100% supported, empowered, and capable of achieving more than just this professional endeavor. I have access to mentorship, studying materials for the LCSW exam (which cost upward of $1000), and professional growth opportunities that I would have otherwise had to tirelessly search for and fund with the small budget I had as a new MSW graduate.
Within the program, I feel 100% supported, empowered, and capable of achieving more than just this professional endeavor. I have access to mentorship, studying materials for the LCSW exam (which cost upward of $1000), and professional growth opportunities that I would have otherwise had to tirelessly search for and fund with the small budget I had as a new MSW graduate.
To the new candidates considering the program, I would encourage you to apply if not for the mentorship, then for the connection and sense of belonging you'd create with other candidates and professionals. If not for the career growth opportunities then for the positive change you'd be making in your communities. If not for exam materials and support then for a hell of a lot less stress while you pursue your path to licensure.
To the new candidates considering the program, I would encourage you to apply if not for the mentorship, then for the connection and sense of belonging you'd create with other candidates and professionals. If not for the career growth opportunities then for the positive change you'd be making in your communities. If not for exam materials and support then for a hell of a lot less stress while you pursue your path to licensure.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and hope to see you with us.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and hope to see you with us.
In Responsibility and Service,
In Responsibility and Service,
Kristina Silva-Pedrero, MSW, LSW
Kristina Silva-Pedrero, MSW, LSW
Then I found the Mental Health Accelerator Program.
And everything changed.
From the moment I joined, I felt like I had finally stepped into a space that was built with people like me in mind. The program didn’t just give me information—it gave me access. Access to mentorship, to resources, to supervision I didn’t have to pay for—and most importantly, to people who truly understood me.
My mentor was someone who didn’t make me feel like I had to explain my story—they just got it. They understood the beauty and complexity of balancing culture, caregiving, and career.
The program gave me structure, clarity, and community. I learned not just how to navigate the licensure process—but how to thrive in it, without compromising who I am. This program didn’t just open doors—it reminded me that my story belongs in this field. That being a mother, an immigrant, and a first-generation student isn’t a barrier—it’s a strength. It’s what makes me uniquely equipped to serve my community with heart and authenticity.
The program gave me structure, clarity, and community. I learned not just how to navigate the licensure process—but how to thrive in it, without compromising who I am. This program didn’t just open doors—it reminded me that my story belongs in this field. That being a mother, an immigrant, and a first-generation student isn’t a barrier—it’s a strength. It’s what makes me uniquely equipped to serve my community with heart and authenticity.
Maria "Ale" Zavala, MSW, LSW
Maria "Ale" Zavala, MSW, LSW
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