HRSA Grant

West Chester University’s MSW and MEd, School Counseling Programs have been awarded a $1.6 million U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training grant (BHWET) for the period from fall 2017 through spring 2021. The overall goal of this grant is to expand the number of social work and school counseling professionals of diverse backgrounds working with persons across the lifespan from vulnerable and medically underserved populations (MUPs). For each academic year, there will be 25 - 30 stipends awarded to qualifying MSW and MEd, School Counseling Students.

To qualify, students must:

  • Be in their final year of field providing behavioral health services to medically underserved areas or populations in an integrated health setting. These settings include, but are not limited to clinics, hospitals, outpatient and inpatient treatment programs, services to older adults, and schools.
  • Fill out a short application once their field placement is set.
  • Be committed to a career trajectory to provide evidence-based behavioral services for vulnerable and medically underserved areas/populations after graduation.
  • Take the interprofessional, integrated health care elective, SWG 590: Advanced Clinical Practice in Integrated Health.
  • Attend two, 2-hour interprofessional education (IPE) trainings per semester on the latest evidence-based practices for integrated care (behavioral and other health care services delivered collaboratively for optimal patient outcomes).

Field Site Qualifications

  • To determine your site's eligibility, complete the interest form.
  • Field instructors must attend two free CEU 2-hour IPE trainings per semester on the latest evidence-based practices for integrated care. Other interested professionals from your field site are welcome to attend at no cost.
  • Field instructors will be surveyed about their experiences at the end of the academic year for which they have had a student.
  • Field instructors will be required to incorporate discussion about behavioral health services to medically underserved populations and areas and focus a critical lens on integrated care.
  • Field instructors are invited to audit SWG 590: Advanced Clinical Practice in Integrated Health and will receive free CEs.

Please contact Dr. Nadine Bean, Project Director, for more information.

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