HRSA awards nearly $66 million to bolster the nation’s behavioral health workforce for underserved communities

Today, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced $22 million in awards to 56 recipients as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, this brings the total BHWET awards to $66 million for 168 organizations.

'Collaborating with community-based partners such as public health organizations, hospitals, and schools presents an opportunity to reduce disparities in access to behavioral health services,' said Acting HRSA Administrator Diana Espinosa. 'Through these experiential training opportunities, members of the behavioral health workforce will get on-the-ground training in the communities and with the populations they will serve.'

Recipient organizations will train graduate level students of social work, psychology, and other behavioral and mental health disciplines to work with vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents and transitional-aged youth at risk for behavioral health disorders. Through placements at health centers and other community-based settings, trainees will gain experience working in the underserved communities where behavioral health services are most urgently needed.

For a complete list of fiscal year 2021 BHWET-Professionals recipients, visit: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/behavioral-health-workforce-education-training-fy2021-awards

Learn more about HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Development Programs.

Learn more about HRSA's funding opportunities.