Morgan State University’s School of Social Work is preparing a new crop of social work professionals with the skills and training to address the public health crisis caused by the rapidly escalating opioid misuse epidemic, thanks to a new $500,000 State Opioid Response grant. Awarded by the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration and funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the grant will support the establishment of 38 social work student fellows made up of undergraduate seniors and master’s degree candidates, and eight doctoral training fellows as part of the Substance Use Disorder and Health Initiative for Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD) initiative.