HRSA Programs

The HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program aims to increase the behavioral health workforce in rural and/or medically underserved communities. In addition, the program aims to increase knowledge and practice in interdisciplinary collaboration for students, faculty, and existing clinicians. This program was established through a $1.9 million award to the Counselor Education and Master of Social Work Programs.

The BHWET Program is available to 30 graduate students per year in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Master of Social Work Programs. Students who complete their clinical field work over two semesters at a behavioral health site in a rural and/or medically underserved location at eligible to apply. The BHWET program is currently serving its last cohort of students with the grant ending in August 2022. Additional BHWET support is not expected at this time.

The HRSA Opioid Workforce Expansion Program (OWEP) program enhances community-based experiential training for students preparing to become behavioral health professionals with a focus on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and other Substance Use Disorders (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services. This program provides training for behavioral health professionals in the provision of OUD and other SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services in high need and high demand areas.  This program was established through a $1.3 million award to the Counselor Education and Master of Social Work programs.

The OWEP Program is available to 27 graduate students per year in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Master of Social Work Programs. Students who complete their clinical field work at a site addressing OUD and/or SUD through prevention, treatment, and/or recovery are eligible to apply.  The OWEP program is currently serving its last cohort of students with the grant ending in August 2022. The HRSA team hopes to secure additional funding for the OWEP program. Check back in late summer 2022 for updates on future program funding.