BOSTON — Westfield State University was awarded $400,000 by the Healey-Driscoll Administration on Dec. 12 to provide financial support for behavioral health students completing unpaid internships and field placements.
“We consider our state university system extensions of support structures that provide essential resources and develop plans to address the health needs of our citizens,” WSU President Dr. Linda Thompson said in a prepared statement about the university’s award.
“The subsidies issued by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, through the Behavior Health Trust Fund, are a strong example of government, education and the behavioral health sector partnering to serve a critical need in our communities,” she said.
The grants are for undergraduate and graduate-level students pursuing careers treating mental health or substance use disorders and are part of the state’s efforts to grow a culturally and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce in the commonwealth, according to a press release from the administration.
Many behavioral health degree and certificate programs require workplace-based internships, apprenticeships or practicum credit hours as a condition for program completion. Required field placements play a central role in helping students prepare to serve as behavioral health practitioners, but these experiences are often unpaid and often require students to sacrifice paid work.
To support students pursuing these careers, the funding is going to colleges with behavioral health degrees that require field placements, with a focus on institutions in geographic areas that are priorities for advancing health equity.
“Our state universities are eager to assist in filling the gaps that lead to better outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, and are committed to working with the Governor’s Office, health agencies and legislators to develop a knowledgeable, experienced workforce to ensure everyone who requires mental health assistance receives the support they need,” Thompson added.
The grant to WSU was one of 37 private colleges and universities that received the grants, totaling $12.4 million, through the Behavioral Health Trust Fund, according to the announcement.
State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) said the grants are vitally important to support students and grow out the state’s behavioral health workforce.
“The experiences and knowledge gained outside of a classroom during an internship can be truly invaluable for individuals aspiring to work in the behavioral health space. Yet I routinely hear from students about the very real financial challenges they face while completing an unpaid internship, which oftentimes keeps students from participating in an internship altogether,” said Velis, who is the chair of the Senate’s Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
Velis was also “grateful” to the administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh “for recognizing this significant barrier for many students and utilizing funds from the Behavioral Health Trust Fund to support students and grow out our behavioral health workforce.”
When announcing the awards Gov. Maura Healey stressed the commonwealth needs more qualified behavioral health professionals.
“By investing in students looking to treat those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, we’re investing in the long-term health and wellness of communities across Massachusetts,” she said.
The behavioral health internship funds are being issued to campuses as grants to be distributed to qualifying students over a two-year period and can be applied to internships being completed in the 2024-2025 academic year and 2025-2026 academic year. Students at the awarded institutions who may be eligible for the funding should speak with their program advisor and financial aid office.
This funding is from the Behavioral Health Trust Fund that was established by the state with American Rescue Plan Act funds and is managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Funds are used for addressing barriers to the delivery of an equitable, culturally competent, affordable and clinically appropriate continuum of behavioral health care and services.
