Expanding Access To Rural Behavioral Health
Project Description:
Data from the Nebraska Office of Rural Health indicate that there are Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in 88 of the State's 93 counties. With funding from a HRSA Quentin N. Burdick Rural Interdisciplinary Training Grant, the Munroe-Meyer Institute has been providing services and training to address issues of shortages of behavioral health providers. Faculty from the UCEDD currently offer services in three "outreach" clinics in rural pediatric practices ranging from 35 to 150 miles from the Omaha area. Students from Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy training programs are being educated to work in primary care practices and to provide behavioral health to underserved rural populations. Annually, faculty and trainees are involved with over 2,000 service delivery therapy sessions in rural areas and trainees participate in all of these applied training activities. Approximately 12 behavioral health trainees participate in the program annually and results from outcome studies have indicated that approximately 30% enter into practice in rural areas upon completion of their graduate training programs. Currently, clinics are conducted in Hastings, Columbus, and Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and serve children and families from 87 towns and villages surrounding these clinical training sites.
Keyword(s):
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN RURAL SETTINGS
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Mulit-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
