The purpose of this program is to develop and expand the behavioral health workforce serving populations across the lifespan, including those that assist rural and medically underserved areas in need. This program places special emphasis on projects that establish or expand internships and field placement programs in behavioral health, which provide interdisciplinary training for students/interns, faculty, and field supervisors. Successful projects will help close the gap in access to behavioral health care services by establishing partnerships with a broad range of organization and community partners. These partnerships will ensure a wide recruitment of students, opportunities for field placements, career development, and provide job placement services. Participating students will be trained in effective behavioral health treatment modalities at interprofessional and team-based care field placement sites, or through internships that are working toward or have instituted the integration of behavioral health and primary care.
Funding will be provided through the following award tracks:
- Professional track:Provide stipend support to graduate-level who will be completing their final field placement (internship or field placement) prior to graduation
- Implement interdisciplinary training with two or more disciplines and integration of behavioral health with primary care
- Increase the number of field placements and internships with a focus on working with persons in rural, vulnerable, and/or medically-underserved communities
- Provide interprofessional training for faculty and field placement supervisors
- Paraprofessional certificate track:Support students through provision of tuition, fees, and supplies to complete a certificate program in a behavioral health-related field
- Include an experiential field placement or internship in the certificate program
Create additional slots beyond current program capacity in a paraprofessional certificate program(s) to increase the number of students trained with a focus on working with persons in rural, vulnerable, and/or medically underserved communities - Support career development in behavioral health for paraprofessionals to encourage career progression
All supported projects must emphasize the following elements:
- Training in prevention and clinical interventions for those at risk of developing or who have a recognized behavioral health disorder
- Strategies for incorporating the involvement of families and community partnerships in the prevention and treatment of behavioral health conditions
Curricula enhancement and interprofessional training for students/interns, faculty, and field placement supervisors - Career development in behavioral health for paraprofessionals and peer support specialists