Thursday, May 2, 2024
5/2/2024
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is part of the world’s oldest and largest consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium in Atlanta, Georgia. Member institutions have a rich history of community-engaged collaborative partnerships since 1929. CAU boasts two continuously reaffirmed professional programs: the Council on Social Work (CSWE) accredited and historic Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited School of Education Masters in School Counseling and Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This approach for the HBCU Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health will be focused on the recruitment and retention of racially/ethnically under-represented graduate students in behavioral health programs across the HBCU network while building networks and mentorship opportunities. The proposed project will foster leadership and professional development opportunities among minority students trained in the behavioral health sciences. This project aims to 1) raise student awareness of multiple career pathways to behavioral health, 2) increase the number of students prepared to enter the behavioral health field upon completion of their terminal degree, and 3) enhance retention among students by expanding partnerships among HBCUs and between students and behavioral health service providers. To accomplish these goals, the HBCU Leadership in Education Awareness and Preparation in Behavioral Health Center for Excellence will expand its reach to underrepresented populations in the behavioral health workforce by developing digital platforms for engagement and increasing awareness about career opportunities for undergraduate HBCU students. The HBCU L.E.A.P. also aims to increase awareness about critical need areas of mental health and substance use disorders for a minimum of five key areas of behavioral health (social work, counseling, psychology, nursing, and psychiatric and/or addiction medicine). The project will also strengthen pre-career development through educational and mentoring programs designed to increase knowledge about licensure/certification preparation and support graduate students by offsetting the financial burden accrued with unpaid practicum/internship/residency requirements in behavioral health programs at HBCUs. With the help of an Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Career Advisory Council, students in behavioral health programs at HBCUs will receive funding support, professional development, and mentoring in their selective fields of study via the L.E.A.P. Pre-Career Footsteps Mentoring Corps.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
