Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals - The proposed project aims to address the critical behavioral health workforce shortage in Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley by expanding and enhancing the paraprofessional training program at Chemeketa Community College. Needs planned to be addressed: This project will address the significant unmet needs for trained mental health and substance abuse professionals in a region designated as a health professional shortage area. Proposed services: Services provided include academic training, experiential learning through field placements, mentorship, and financial support to students pursuing credentials as Qualified Mental Health Associates (QMHA-R) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC). Population to be served: The target population includes low-income, first-generation, and ethnically diverse students, particularly Hispanic and multilingual individuals, seeking to enter the behavioral health field. Funding preference or priority requested: This project requests funding preferences, qualifications 1 and 3, under for serving underserved populations in a mental health provider shortage area, with a focus on increasing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate services. Priority funding merit is requested under priority 1, Role of the family and the lived experience of the consumer and family paraprofessional partnership. See Attachments 7 and 8 of the application.
