News Summary
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been awarded a $2.4 million federal grant to bolster the mental health workforce for youth in Southeast Tennessee. This initiative aims to train and retain graduate students in counseling and social work, addressing significant gaps in mental health services in the region, identified as mental health deserts with a high ratio of residents per provider. The program will provide essential training and resources for 12 students annually, promoting collaborative care and sustainable mental health support.
Chattanooga, TN – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has been awarded a $2.4 million federal grant to enhance the mental health workforce dedicated to serving children, adolescents, and young adults in the region. This funding, provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration, will be disbursed in four annual installments of $600,000 over the next four years.
The grant will support a new initiative titled Behavioral Healthcare through InterProfessional Training, which aims to train and retain graduate students in counseling, psychology, and social work to provide assistance in rural communities throughout Southeast Tennessee. A dedicated six-member interdisciplinary faculty team will lead this initiative, which also includes partnerships with eight regional organizations to ensure a collaborative approach to addressing mental health needs.
As part of the program, the grant will provide stipends, field placements in either clinical or school settings, mentorship, and training focused on collaborative care models for 12 graduate students annually. These students will undergo simulation-based learning experiences and participate in annual conferences designed to enrich their professional training. Additionally, site supervisors involved in the initiative will benefit from support to enhance their mentoring capabilities.
UTC’s initiative is designed to create career pipelines that encourage professionals to remain in the communities where they have received their training, ultimately addressing the pressing mental health needs of the area. A key component of the program is the establishment of a digital learning library that will provide access to case simulations, video tutorials, and telehealth training resources, ensuring these crucial tools remain available even after the grant period ends.
This federal funding marks a significant achievement for UTC as it is the first large grant of its kind awarded to the university specifically for mental health efforts, contrasting with previous grants which have typically favored fields such as science and engineering.
The initiative targets 11 counties in the region: Polk, Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Grundy, Marion, and Franklin. These areas have been identified as mental health deserts, with an alarming ratio of 3,080 residents per mental health provider, which is 850% higher than the national average of 320 to 1. This initiative aims to address the substantial gaps in mental health services, particularly for youth suffering from distress and trauma.
The decision to focus on mental health among young people comes as a response to the increasing instances of mental health issues within this demographic. The initiative aims not only to improve access to necessary care for underserved populations but also to cultivate a sustainable workforce that can address these challenges in the future.
Throughout the duration of the grant, UTC is committed to providing essential training and resources that will equip the next generation of mental health professionals to meet the diverse needs of their communities. With this funding, UTC seeks to improve the overall mental health landscape in Southeast Tennessee, empowering graduate students to make a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.
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Additional Resources
- Times Free Press: UTC lands $2.4M grant to expand mental health workforce
- Wikipedia: Mental Health
- Gomocs: Q&A with new UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Grant (funding)
- Gomocs: Steve Picucci named Mocs Cross Country and Track Field coach
- Google Search: Mental health initiatives Tennessee
- Gomocs: Football LBs in a word – Ability
- Google Scholar: Mental health workforce Tennessee
Author: STAFF HERE CHATTANOOGA WRITER
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