Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program - South Dakota faces a severe shortage of behavioral health professionals, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where access to mental health and addiction services is critically limited. Avera BRIGHT: Building Rural Innovation and Growth in Behavioral Health Teams addresses this crisis by creating a sustainable pipeline of highly trained professionals who serve these high-need communities. Focusing on children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for mental health disorders, trauma, and substance use challenges, Avera BRIGHT integrates recruitment, training, and retention strategies to expand and enhance South Dakota’s behavioral health workforce. Over its four-year span, the program will train 12 students per grant year. Participants will include Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Arts in Counseling (MA), and Master of Addiction Counseling (MAC) trainees, prioritizing candidates from rural and underserved backgrounds. These students will gain hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings, including school-based programs, addiction treatment facilities, and telehealth environments. Culturally responsive and trauma-informed care modules, particularly those addressing the needs of Native American communities, will equip trainees to meet the unique challenges of rural practice. Avera BRIGHT addresses barriers to workforce sustainability by providing stipends, licensure support, and professional mentorship, easing financial and logistical burdens for trainees. Telehealth training and partnerships with tribal councils and rural clinics enhance access to care in remote areas, addressing geographic and systemic barriers. Avera BRIGHT emphasizes health equity and culturally competent care by adhering to the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). This program ensures underserved communities receive high-quality, compassionate care while fostering a resilient and committed behavioral health workforce to transform South Dakota’s mental health and addiction treatment landscape.
