Chatham Receives Additional $1.9 Million HRSA Grant
Chatham University’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program has received a $1.9 million competing continuation grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, titled Wellness: Expanding Psychology Training in Integrated Care (WELL).
Building off the success of the WELL project, the new grant funding will help increase the recruitment and retention of students with diverse backgrounds and identities through the Healthcare Alliance for the Promotion of Pittsburgh Youth (HAPPY) project. The HAPPY project aims to 1) increase the number of professionals equipped to meet the behavioral healthcare needs of children, adolescents, and young adults in high-need and high-demand areas; 2) train professionals, faculty, and supervisors to use team- and systems-based approaches to care; and 3) ensure professionals are competent in telehealth, trained in violence prevention, and offer strengths-based, culturally competent care that also attends to sensitive topics of trauma, suicide, and substance misuse.
What sets the HAPPY project apart from the current WELL project is the integration of Doctoral Occupational Therapy trainees and Masters in Counseling Psychology, in addition to PsyD students. This innovative approach increases the interdisciplinary care and training at each site by adding another professional perspective to trauma-informed care, particularly intimate partner and youth violence prevention, while also offering culturally appropriate care for children, adolescents, and young adults with diverse identities.
These goals will be achieved by partnering with integrated care clinics in high-need and high-demand areas in Pittsburgh that serve children, adolescents, and young adults, particularly those who live in poor families or who are detained, refugees or immigrants, LGBTQIA+, or racially/ethnically minoritized. Over the course of the four-year grant period, the number of integrated care sites serving children, adolescents, and young adults in high-need populations will be increased from five to 11. The plan is to recruit and train nearly 100 new professionals, particularly diverse professionals, with a goal of 50 professionals remaining in Pennsylvania following program completion. Chatham professors Dr. Jennifer Morse and Dr. Deanna Hamilton co-direct the Happy Project.
“I’m excited to continue to build collaborations with the School of Health Sciences and within the Pittsburgh community, particularly in a context where we’re working to recruit, support and retain students who hold marginalized identities and serving populations which are also marginalized. Partnering with several federally-qualified health centers and other community partners serving youth in Pittsburgh provides fabulous opportunities.” said Dr. Jennifer Morse, co-Project Director.
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,919,893, with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
About Chatham’s PsyD Program
Chatham University's Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology program is one of a small number of APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD programs in the nation. The hallmarks of the program include science-informed practice; an emphasis on promoting sustainable health and well-being; a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and social justice; and access to a broad range of training opportunities. The program includes three years of coursework and practicum experiences, followed by a one-year internship.
About Dr. Jennifer Morse
Jennifer Q. Morse, PhD, is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at Chatham University. Dr. Morse earned her BA at Bryn Mawr College and her PhD at Duke University. Prior to Chatham, Dr. Morse was at the University of Pittsburgh, where she conducted NIH-funded clinical research on personality disorders and late-life mood disorders. At Chatham, her research interests have expanded from clinical topics to also include graduate training and social justice.
About Dr. Deanna Hamilton
Deanna Hamilton, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at Chatham University. Dr. Hamilton earned her BA at Northwestern University and her PhD at Bryn Mawr College. At Chatham, Hamilton’s academic and research interests include positive psychology, psychological well-being and innovative teaching.
About Health Resources & Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving healthcare to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. HRSA programs help those in need of high-quality primary healthcare, people living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, and mothers. HRSA also supports the training of health professionals, the distribution of providers to areas where they are needed most and improvements in healthcare delivery.