New Mexico State University's Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology (CEP) has secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for Project ACT. This initiative aims to enhance training in clinical mental health counseling and school psychology for underserved youth in southern New Mexico, according to a press release.
The grant will be distributed over two years, with each year receiving $470,000 in funding. The funding will support NMSU's clinical mental health counseling and school psychology programs, which are accredited by relevant bodies. These programs are part of NMSU's College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation.
The goal of Project ACT is to forge partnerships with community organizations to offer field placements and career development opportunities for students. This will help address the shortage of behavioral health professionals in critical need areas. The initiative aims to provide training and support to students committed to serving communities, especially bilingual counseling trainees who often face additional training requirements without extra support.
Elsa Arroyos, interim head of the NMSU Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology and the grant's co-principal investigator, highlighted the importance of grants like this in addressing the shortages in the behavioral health workforce. She emphasized the need to serve vulnerable communities, particularly young people who are experiencing a crisis in mental health.
The CEP Department at NMSU is dedicated to training professionals in various fields, with a focus on social justice and inclusivity. Their mission is to prepare individuals in areas like clinical mental health counseling and school psychology to contribute to a more equitable and just society, free from systems of oppression that harm marginalized communities.
The additional training in Spanish counseling will make the training even more impactful. Anna Lopez, an associate professor in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department and the grant's principal investigator, expressed gratitude for the support that will be provided to bilingual counseling trainees. She highlighted the need to change the current situation where these trainees are often required to complete additional training without extra support.
With the funding secured through the grant, NMSU's Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology is poised to make significant strides in improving access to behavioral health training and addressing the critical shortage of professionals in underserved areas.
