SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 27, 2026 -- Nine graduate social work students in Riverside County, California, began working directly inside one of the region's largest public agencies this week after California Baptist University (CBU) and the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) launched the inaugural ANCHOR Fellowship on Aug. 26 with a blazer ceremony at CBU. The yearlong program places CBU graduate students in leadership assignments tied to DPSS programs, operations and services. DPSS serves more than 1 million county residents every year.
ANCHOR Fellows Skip Observation, Start On DPSS Projects
ANCHOR stands for Advancing New Careers in Human Services and Organization Resilience. Fellows work alongside DPSS professionals on assignments tied to department programs, operations and services, gaining firsthand knowledge of public-sector administration. The inaugural cohort includes CBU Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work students with backgrounds in public service, social services and the military.
These fellows already carry professional experience into their assignments, not just classroom theory.
Riverside County's Population Growth Outpaces Its Social Work Workforce
Riverside County's population reached approximately 2.54 million in 2025, a 5.2% increase since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. DPSS serves more than 1 million residents each year. The 2025 California Health Interview Survey found the Inland Empire faces a severe shortage of social work professionals to support its large, economically and culturally diverse underserved population.
CBU's Breitenbucher Ties Fellowship To Community Impact
"ANCHOR moves our students from studying leadership to practicing it on projects that matter to the community," said Dr. Phil Breitenbucher, director of CBU's Office of Professional and Career Development and associate professor of social work. He said the fellows bring experience, advanced education and a commitment to service, and that the program lets them apply that experience while preparing for leadership roles in human services.
DPSS Director Charity Douglas said the fellowship gives future leaders a chance to shape how services are delivered for years to come.
The inaugural cohort draws from CBU's Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work programs, with members coming from backgrounds in public service, social services and the military. Over the course of the year, fellows will complete DPSS projects while building professional relationships and a deeper understanding of government human services careers. CBU, founded in 1950 and affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention, offers more than 106 bachelor's programs, 44 graduate programs and 11 doctoral programs.