Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program - The 2025-2029 SMARTT (Serving Marginalized Adolescents in Rural Towns Training) Phase 2 Program at Heidelberg University (HU) Masters of Counseling (MAC) requests $2,251,641.24, and will provide stipends ($25,000 each) to 16 students annually, or 64 students trained over the four-year period. Program is designed in response to Ohio’s high demand for behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and youth (CAY) in rural underserved communities. The program offers Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration, and will meet national academic and field placement standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage/Family Therapist (OCSWMFT) Board; the Ohio Department of Higher Education requirements for students who are seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). MAC’s mission is dedicated to educating, motivating, and preparing highly qualified, ethically, and culturally competent professional counselors. The proposal uses a multifaceted approach (Student support, Supervisor support, Training for unmet high-demand needs) specifically targeting those able to serve underserved, marginalized, and rural CAY. This will overcome financial barriers and reduce graduation dropout rates by providing stipends. Students will assist in mass training of undergraduate peers in Mental Health First Recognition certifications to bring awareness to mental health and as a recruitment tool to promote graduate careers. Project will provide training, speaker series, Sand Tray Therapy kits, Faculty/ S-Supervisor professional development, and conference presentation opportunities. Primary clinical partners include Family Resource Center, COMPASS Behavioral Health, and Third Street Family Health Services. The overarching goal of SMARTT Program, Phase 2, is to increase the number of counselors who are trained to provide integrated behavioral health care and are committed to working in high-need and high-demand areas. Objectives include Stipends to 64 graduate-level clinical mental health counseling students. Integrated Care Competencies-Program creates course content to develop competency in behavioral health and its integration into primary care or school settings with interprofessional training. Faculty will build a new concentration within the counseling program with a certificate program entitled “Trauma-Informed Integrated Care,” for students. Experiential Training Sites-Program will work with sites to improve competencies through training that emphasizes treating CAY in rural, underserved communities and prioritizing cultural and linguistic competencies. Technology Integration-Program provides training to qualify them for the Board Certified TeleMental Health Certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors. Training and Support to Program Faculty-Faculty will attend ten conferences throughout the grant period to increase knowledge of both supervision best practices and best practices. Student Training-Sand Tray Therapy training will be given to all students. Students will assist with Mental Health First Recognition training, Supervisor Compensation-Program will provide stipends to clinical supervisors who are providing field supervision to current MAC students, Career Placement-Program provides resources and support to students to secure post-graduation employment in high-demand areas. HU requests Funding Priority #1 consideration. HU has trained forty-seven psychology, psychiatry, and social work professionals to work in integrated care. HU requests Funding Preference #1 consideration. Based on 2022-2024 graduate placement statistics, HU has placed 57.5% (23 of 40) graduates in HRSA-designated regions, which exceed the HIGH-RATE requirement of 50%. HU has placed 57.5% (23 of 40) graduates in HRSA-designated rural regions.
