Marquette University Receives $2.4 Million Grant to Expand Behavioral Health Workforce

A significant funding boost aims to address the shortages in clinical mental health counselors, especially those specializing in child and adolescent care. Dr. Lee Za Ong, associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology in Marquette University's College of Education, has received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop and expand experiential training opportunities for a behavioral health workforce. This project continues work from a 2021 HRSA grant worth nearly $1 million. The initiative will also enhance the capacity to train clinical supervisors to support trainees.

Key Takeaways:

• The $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aims to address the shortage of clinical mental health counselors, particularly those specializing in child and adolescent care.
• Dr. Lee Za Ong, associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology, will lead the project to develop and expand experiential training opportunities.
• The initiative will focus on recruiting, developing, and expanding the capacity to train clinical supervisors to support behavioral health trainees.
• The project builds on the College of Education's online and in-person clinical mental health counseling-child and adolescent specialization program.
• The grant will provide stipend support to students in need, particularly those from rural areas, who are committed to working in underserved communities after graduation.
• The funds will also compensate supervisors for training on ethical guidelines, supervision skills, high-quality tele-behavioral health practices, and burnout prevention to improve client outcomes.

Statistics:

• $2.4 million: The value of the grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop and expand experiential training opportunities.
• $1 million: The value of a 2021 HRSA grant that this project continues.
• 2021: The date of the HRSA grant.
• 11,100: The total number of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional students at Marquette University.
• 6th-best: Marquette University's ranking in the country for job placement.
• 20%: Marquette University's ranking in the top national universities.
• 11: The number of nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools at Marquette University.

Sources:

• Marquette University
• Dr. Lee Za Ong
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (towards the Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training program)
• HRSA's Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training program for professionals