Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals
The BHWET Program Overview
We are pleased to announce that the graduate counseling program at Waynesburg University was awarded the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals. The BHWET program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,069,240 over a four-year period from 2021 to 2025 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The award amount for the annual budget period 07/01/2021-6/30/2022 is $198,485.00. The BHWET program provides eligible students with a $10,000 stipend while completing their clinical field experience in the grant’s focus area.
The purpose of the BHWET Program for Professionals is to develop and expand experiential training opportunities, such as field placements and internships, to improve the distribution and supply of the behavioral health workforce. The BHWET Program for Professionals emphasizes relationships with community-based partners to increase access to quality behavioral health services for populations across the lifespan in high need, high demand, and medically underserved areas. A special focus is vulnerable populations, such as children, adolescents and transitional-aged youth who are at risk for behavioral health disorders as well as individuals with substance use disorders. Additionally, the BHWET Program for Professionals emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration by utilizing team-based care in integrated behavioral health and primary care settings and recruiting a workforce that reflects participation in the institutions’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations, interested in serving high need, high demand and medically underserved areas.
BHWET Field Placement Site Requirements
In order for a field placement site to meet requirements for the BHWET they must fulfill the following requirements:
The site shall be in a designated rural area.
Please be advised that not all high need/high demand areas are necessarily "rural" and may even be in an urban area. Urban areas may qualify in the event that they are identified as a HPSA or MUA/P and engage in interdisciplinary, team-based, integrated care.
The site shall be identified as a Mental Health Care Provider Shortage Areas (HPSA’s).
The site shall be in a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) and/or treating Medically Underserved Populations (MUP).
The site shall offer and engage in interdisciplinary teaming and/or team-based care to support integrated behavioral health efforts.
BHWET Student Eligibility Requirements
Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling graduate program at Waynesburg University may qualify for the BHWET should they meet the following BHWET student eligibility requirements:
You must be a U.S. Citizen.
You must be a full-time student in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Waynesburg University.
You must be in good standing.
You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Clinical fieldwork must occur over two semesters.
Student Commitment
Eligible students must acknowledge and agree to the following student commitments:
Complete the field placement or internship;
Complete the training requirements, including two 2-hour workshops and two 2-hour seminars each semester;
Commit to a plan to pursue employment working with medically underserved populations;
Complete and submit all required information necessary for accurate reporting and project documentation for the Health Resources and Services Administration;
Respond to requests post-graduation for information necessary for program reporting for purposes such as licensure status and career placements; and
Keep Waynesburg University staff apprised of my professional development.
BHWET Program Perks
Waynesburg University encourages all Master of Arts in Counseling students to take full advantage of this superb education and training program. Being involved in the BHWET affords the student with a wealth of opportunities which may include, but are not limited to the following:
The BHWET program provides students with a $10,000 stipend while completing their clinical field experience in the grants focus area.
The eligible student will receive a $5,000 stipend for the fall internship experience and a $5,000 for the spring internship experience. In total, this is a $10,000 stipend to support expansion of the behavioral health workforce in high need, high demand areas, working with marginalized populations that may include:
Children
Adolescents
Transitional-Aged Youth
Individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Please be advised that the grant does emphasize placements be with children, adolescents, transitional-aged youth and individuals with substance use disorders by 2025. However, the student is not necessarily required to be at a field placement site that exclusively works with children, adolescents, transitional-aged youth and/or individuals with substance use disorders. Students can find placements that will qualify even if they are working primarily (or exclusively) with adults.
This is an amazing opportunity for students to expand experiential learning opportunities in high demand, high need areas, working with marginalized populations to include interdisciplinary teaming and team-based care in integrated behavioral health settings.
There is funding available for professional development (e.g., trainings, conferences) and potential to assist with travel expenses as well.
How to Apply
Current Waynesburg University Master of Arts in Counseling students can apply to the BHWET program one semester prior to beginning the internship portion of the program. To apply, students must submit the following:
BHWET Application
Writing Prompt
Site Profile Form
Student Commitment Letter
Resume
Transcripts
Please be advised that the students will not need to provide a copy of their transcripts. Students are not required to request transcripts through the Office of the Registrar.
Students are to be advised that department faculty will access and review student transcripts through the University accordingly.
Application Deadlines
Applications for the Fall Semester must be completed in full and submitted no later than July 1.
Applications for the Spring Semester must be completed in full and submitted no later than December 1.
If you are remaining at the same site for the Spring Semester, students will be required to complete an attestation per the same which will be completed in full and submitted no later than December 1.
You will be notified as to whether or not your application to the program was accepted or denied one month prior to the start of the semester.
Who should I contact?
Grant Project Director
Dr. James Hepburn
Program Director for the Master of Arts in Counseling, Program Director for the Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Professor of Psychology
