Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training Program
Full- and part-time MSW students completing a clinical field practicum during the academic year are invited to apply for the Integrated Behavioral Health Care (IBHC) Training Program and receive a $10,000 stipend!
Supported by generous funding from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the IBHC Training Program offers specialized classroom and experiential training in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, interprofessional team-based care for serving underserved communities. It also aims to improve the demographic representation of the behavioral health workforce by encouraging students from underrepresented groups to apply.
This grant provides $10,000 stipends to at least 29 Master of Social Work (MSW) students in clinical field placements each year for four years — over $1,180,000 in funding.
Get your questions answered
Attend an Information Session
Join an upcoming information session to learn more about the Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training Program!
Program Overview
Dr. Tonya Horn explains what makes the IBHC Training Program special.
About the Program
Program Details
IBHC Scholars will enjoy the following:
- $10,000 stipend
- Academic year field placement in an IBHC-designated site serving medically underserved communities
- IBHC-focused clinical field seminar course (GRSW 607/608)
- Clinical Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare elective course (GRSW 629)
- IBHC Speaker Series featuring presentations by providers from various integrated care settings working with medically underserved communities
- An interdisciplinary simulation (half day) within the Morrison Family College of Health
- Online training in the Ethics of Telemental Health
- Individualized support for licensure preparation, employment placement, and connecting to HRSA loan repayment programs
Why Behavioral Health and Social Work?
Siloed systems of care, access barriers, and a lack of culturally relevant services contribute to broad health inequities and result in many communities being medically underserved.
Integrated behavioral healthcare is a coordinated system of care that involves social workers working in teams with other medical and behavioral health providers and healers to holistically address patients' concerns, provide whole-person care, and respond to social determinants of health. This practice model has been shown to increase access to care and improve health across the lifespan.
Social workers trained in "person in environment" theory and person-centered care, who are committed to social justice on all system levels, play important roles in integrated behavioral healthcare teams working with medically underserved communities. The Integrated Behavioral Health Care (IBHC) Training Program at St. Thomas is a unique training opportunity in the growing area of integrated behavioral health care.
Program Goals
- Increase the number of clinical field placements in interdisciplinary, integrated primary and behavioral health settings in high-need, high-demand areas.
- Enhance educational opportunities in trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically competent, interprofessional, team-based, integrated primary and behavioral care.
- Improve the demographic representation of the behavioral health workforce in Minnesota by recruiting underrepresented students, delivering high-quality training experiences in high-need, high-demand settings, and helping place students in these settings upon graduation.
- Remove financial barriers by providing stipends and connecting students to HRSA-sponsored loan repayment programs upon graduation.
Eligibility Requirements
- Full- or part-time MSW students, including from hybrid programs. Applicants to the Advanced Standing 1-Year MSW program are also eligible to apply
- Completing a clinical field placement during 2023-2024 academic year
- Interested in working in interprofessional settings with underserved communities
- Per federal guidelines, must be eligible to work in the U.S. and must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the U.S. (individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate)
- Students from groups underrepresented in the healthcare workforce are encouraged to apply
Program Details
IBHC Scholars will enjoy the following:
- $10,000 stipend
- Academic year field placement in an IBHC-designated site serving medically underserved communities
- IBHC-focused clinical field seminar course (GRSW 607/608)
- Clinical Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare elective course (GRSW 629)
- IBHC Speaker Series featuring presentations by providers from various integrated care settings working with medically underserved communities
- An interdisciplinary simulation (half day) within the Morrison Family College of Health
- Online training in the Ethics of Telemental Health
- Individualized support for licensure preparation, employment placement, and connecting to HRSA loan repayment programs
Why Behavioral Health and Social Work?
Siloed systems of care, access barriers, and a lack of culturally relevant services contribute to broad health inequities and result in many communities being medically underserved.
Integrated behavioral healthcare is a coordinated system of care that involves social workers working in teams with other medical and behavioral health providers and healers to holistically address patients' concerns, provide whole-person care, and respond to social determinants of health. This practice model has been shown to increase access to care and improve health across the lifespan.
Social workers trained in "person in environment" theory and person-centered care, who are committed to social justice on all system levels, play important roles in integrated behavioral healthcare teams working with medically underserved communities. The Integrated Behavioral Health Care (IBHC) Training Program at St. Thomas is a unique training opportunity in the growing area of integrated behavioral health care.
Program Goals
- Increase the number of clinical field placements in interdisciplinary, integrated primary and behavioral health settings in high-need, high-demand areas.
- Enhance educational opportunities in trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically competent, interprofessional, team-based, integrated primary and behavioral care.
- Improve the demographic representation of the behavioral health workforce in Minnesota by recruiting underrepresented students, delivering high-quality training experiences in high-need, high-demand settings, and helping place students in these settings upon graduation.
- Remove financial barriers by providing stipends and connecting students to HRSA-sponsored loan repayment programs upon graduation.
Eligibility Requirements
- Full- or part-time MSW students, including from hybrid programs. Applicants to the Advanced Standing 1-Year MSW program are also eligible to apply
- Completing a clinical field placement during 2023-2024 academic year
- Interested in working in interprofessional settings with underserved communities
- Per federal guidelines, must be eligible to work in the U.S. and must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the U.S. (individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate)
- Students from groups underrepresented in the healthcare workforce are encouraged to apply
IBHC Info Session
Watch an overview presentation about the Integrated Behavioral Health Care (IBHC) Training Program to learn about the experience.
Training Program Contact Information
Apply to the Training Program
Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are due February 8, 2024.
Selected awardees will be notified by the end of February 2024.