The School of Social Work has been awarded a 2021 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
The funds, totaling $1.56 million over a four-year project period, will support continuation and expansion of the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training program. This is the fifth HRSA award since 2012 supporting the development and implementation of the training program.
The new funding will provide $10,000 in stipend support for advanced field placement to 96 MSW students over four years to focus their studies on integrated behavioral health practice.
The RIBHT program emphasizes prevention and clinical interventions for behavioral health conditions with particular focus on collaborative, team-based models of care in rural integrated behavioral health and primary care settings.
Opportunities for students in the training program include specialized coursework and field placements, inter-professional training workshops targeting skill development for integrated behavioral health practice, intensive mentoring, and leadership development. Training for field placement supervisors, agency staff, and students and faculty across various health professions at WVU will be provided.
For questions on the RIBHT program contact Carrie Rishel, PI/project director and professor,School of Social Work at Carrie.Rishel@mail.wvu.edu or Helen Hartnett, Co-PI and professor, School of Social Work at Helen.Hartnett@mail.wvu.edu.