Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program - Newman University, a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, will establish the Newman University Behavioral Health Education for Social Work Trainees (NU-BEST) program to increase the number of well-trained social workers serving children, youth, and families in high-need rural communities, primarily in southwest Kansas. The NU-BEST program will respond to a critical need for more licensed social workers trained to provide emotional and behavioral health services to children and families who have experienced trauma in underserved areas of rural Kansas and to develop coordinated community responses to support those families. Newman is requesting consideration under Funding Priority 1 and the Funding Preference: Qualification 1: High Rate. Many communities in southwest Kansas have limited access to behavioral and mental health resources. Given the small population density, there are simply very few behavioral and mental health service providers in this area. Yet, these communities are struggling with significant mental and behavioral health needs. Southwest Kansas needs a steady and well-trained supply of social workers trained to help children and adolescents with behavioral and health issues and to address trauma with evidence-based practices and cultural competency. Unfortunately, there are not currently enough social workers to meet the increasing need. Many of the clinical specialists and master-level social workers in Kansas work in the five largest urban counties. Consequently, families and children in rural areas must wait long periods to receive treatment. The shortage in rural areas is especially pronounced for social workers with more advanced degrees. The NU-BEST program will recruit, prepare, graduate, and support 64 additional social workers from the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. NU-BEST graduates will be trained to provide trauma-informed care for children and youth with mental and behavioral health needs in both school and community settings. The program will provide stipends to MSW students during their final experiential learning experience. NU-BEST will also provide additional services that will equip graduates to work effectively with high-need families. The program will establish six new partnerships to support clinical experiences each year: Genesis Family Health, Compass Behavioral Health, Garden City United States School District (USD) 457, Dodge City USD 443, Liberal USD 480, and the Department of Children and Families. While Newman has worked closely with these partners in the past, each represents a new training site for MSW students. These sites will provide NU-BEST trainees with hands-on experiences and the skills necessary to address the complex needs of young people experiencing trauma while simultaneously serving communities that require increased mental health support. Additionally, the NU-BEST project team will recruit staff from these partners and others in the area to serve as interprofessional mentors for NU-BEST trainees, offering perspectives on how social work interfaces with other fields that support the behavioral and mental health of children and families. MWS and NU-BEST staff will prepare an orientation program for all supervisors and mentors. Finally, the NU-BEST program will provide vital professional development opportunities for faculty, MSW students, teachers, social workers, and other community partners on topics and issues related to the mental and behavioral health needs of youth living in rural Kansas. These workshops will cover current topics that are relevant to both the program and the needs of the surrounding area. The team will plan two of these workshops each academic year. Some example topics include strategies for de-escalating crises in school settings, teaching others how to provide trauma-informed care, and collaborating with nurses and healthcare professionals to better serve youth with behavioral health needs.
