Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program - Project TEAMS (Collaboration to Train Exceptional Interdisciplinary Health Service Psychologists to Advance Equity in Behavioral and Mental Health Services) addresses the urgent need for equitable behavioral and mental health services for culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse children and adolescents in underserved communities. Submitted under the HRSA BHWET Program (HRSA-25-068), the initiative will train more than 20 health service psychologists (HSPs) through year-long internships in schools identified by NHSC Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores. This program leverages the APA-accredited Santa Barbara Psychology Internship Consortium (SB-PIC), a partnership between the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School of Education and the Santa Barbara County Special Education Local Plan Area (SBCSELPA), encompassing 20 school districts, the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and four charter schools. The SB-PIC has demonstrated the ability to train HSPs to work in integrated care settings (HRSA Funding Priority 1), including a high rate of placing graduates in practice settings focused on serving residents of medically underserved communities (HRSA Funding Preference 1). For much of the year, on most days, the majority of children and adolescents spend their time at school, making it a strategic location for providing behavioral health services to ensure widespread access. As indicated by the HPSA scores, SB-PIC serves communities with high levels of mental health needs among culturally and linguistically diverse youth populations including the geographic regions of Solvang, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Santa Maria, Goleta, and Santa Barbara. There is extensive demonstrated need among children in each of the school districts in these high priority communities served by the SB-PIC doctoral-level interns via Project TEAMS. TEAMS interns will receive financial stipends and comprehensive training that integrates behavioral health into primary care, school, and specialty settings. By emphasizing interprofessional collaboration, technology integration, and evidence-based practices, Project TEAMS ensures interns are equipped to deliver contemporary, culturally responsive care. The program includes enhanced faculty and supervisor training, telehealth services, and community partnerships to facilitate post-graduation job placement. Trainees will obtain National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers, with graduate outcomes tracked for at least one year post-training. Additionally, Project TEAMS will engage in continuous quality improvement and collaborate with other HRSA grant recipients to maximize training impact and resource sharing. This initiative directly addresses behavioral health workforce shortages while prioritizing the needs of underserved youth populations. By fostering early intervention and culturally competent care, Project TEAMS lays a foundation for long-term mental health equity and well-being in high-need communities. The program’s innovative, interprofessional model serves as a national benchmark for behavioral health workforce development, making a transformative impact on mental health service delivery. Project TEAMS addresses workforce shortages by cultivating a pipeline of skilled HSPs committed to serving high-need populations. The project’s focus on cultural, linguistic, and racial diversity aligns with national priorities for health equity, ensuring that trainees are well-equipped to address the unique needs of marginalized communities. By focusing on school-based settings, Project TEAMS emphasizes early intervention and preventive care, laying a foundation for long-term well-being in children and adolescents. Project TEAMS will contribute to a new generation of HSPs capable of transforming equitable and effective behavioral health care delivery in underserved communities, thus, serving as a national model for behavioral health workforce development.
