Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Scholars Program

group of students on stairs.

BHWET Program 2019-2020 cohort.

The UB School of Nursing, UB School of Social Work, UB Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, UB Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions and the UB Department of Family Medicine have partnered to bring an bring an new and exciting fellowship program to the University at Buffalo. This fellowship focuses on providing advanced training to the next generation of behavioral health counselors, with a focus on integrated and team-base care and substance abuse counseling.

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Additional information about BHWET

Overview

The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Scholars Program is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)* funded workforce education and training program, which aims to develop and expand the behavioral health workforce serving populations across the lifespan, including rural and medically underserved areas, with a focus on substance abuse treatment. The program aims at closing the gap in access to behavioral health care services by enabling community partnerships and providing advanced training for students entering the fields of behavioral health and substance abuse.

The next generation of behavioral health counselors within this program consists of an interprofessional cohort of students – representing the fields of psychiatric mental health, social work, mental health counseling and rehabilitation counseling – who are interested in behavioral health and addictions services clinical practice in an integrated health setting.

Eligibility

To be eligible students for the fellowship, students must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time in one of the following programs: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Social Work (including incoming advance standing students), Mental Health Counseling or Rehabilitation Counseling.
  • Be entering their last year of clinical or field practicum and in good standing (as defined by the respective program). This includes Advanced Standing MSW students with an acceptance letter from the school.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or foreign national with a visa permitting permanent residence.
  • Complete a competitive BHWET program application.

Benefits/Compensation

Students whom are a part of the BHWET program will:

  • Receive an annual stipend commiserate with their degree level and enrollment standing.
  • Receive enriched educational, training and career development opportunities focused on interprofessional practice.

Program Requirements

Students must:

  • Maintain a full-time course load and good academic standing in his/her appropriate school and fulfill predetermined requirements for your program.
  • Complete the enhanced training program on behavioral health.
  • Commit to seeking employment related to behavioral health in rural, vulnerable or underserved communities following graduation.
  • Commit to providing contact and employment information following graduation.
  • Complete a competitive BHWET scholars’ program application process.

Application Process

  1. Complete the BHWET Application and email it to the faculty coordinator for your department, along with the required personal statement and resume.
    • Social Work: Laura Lewis by Thursday, April 1, 2021
    • Nursing: Patti Nisbet by Friday, April 30, 2021
    • Mental Health/Rehabilitation Counseling: Tim Janikowski by Saturday, May 1, 2021
  2. The selection committee for your department will review applications and select candidates for interviews.
  3. Following interviews, the selection committee will select fellowship candidates and once a student has accepted the fellowship, the team will work with you to select an appropriate placement.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the BHWET Program Coordinator Joshua Altemoos, Project Director Yu-Ping Chang or your program coordinator:

*This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number M01HP31333 and title Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program for $1,920,000. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.