Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program - The Idaho Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (the I-BHWET) is a response to the severe behavioral health workforce shortage in Idaho, particularly in rural areas and amongst minoritized populations. The entire State of Idaho is a mental health shortage area, and its residents face a suicide rate above the national average. Children and adolescents across Idaho also experience serious mental health challenges, like suicidal ideation and major depressive episodes, which are often made worse by socio-economic difficulties. Idahoans need team-based, integrated behavioral health services provided by mental health counselors who understand and are committed to their local communities. Thus, the I-BHWET will recruit counseling trainees from rural and underserved communities across Idaho for Idaho State University’s (ISU) Masters in Counseling program and the I-BHWET. These trainees will have an interest in working with children, adolescents, and young adults, and will each conduct at least 360 hours of counseling in a high-need, high-demand setting during their year in the I-BHWET. I-BHWET trainees will also commit to counseling for at least one year in a high-need, high-demand setting in Idaho post-graduation. The I-BHWET will also expand ISU’s community partnerships with experiential training sites in high-need and high-demand areas, and the number of clinical supervisors prepared to support and mentor trainees. Trainees and supervisors will engage in team-based, collaborative training and education to further integrate behavioral healthcare into interprofessional primary care settings. Trainees and supervisors will also participate in supervision training focused on children, adolescents, and young adults in particular. These trainings will expand supervisors’ readiness to support trainees in integrated and interprofessional settings, and increase trainees’ interest and preparedness to serve as supervisors in the future. The I-BHWET is requesting funding priority 1 and funding preference 1. See further detail in Attachment 8.
