Skip Navigation
Search
Office for Research and Innovation
Office of Proposal Development
HomeFind FundingLimited CompetitionsCurrent Limited CompetitionsBehavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals

This is a canvass to determine whether an internal competition will be necessary for this limited submission program. If you are interested in applying to this program, you must notify OPD by submitting the internal competitions form. Pre-applications are not yet required.

HRSA is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2021 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals. The purpose of the program is to develop and expand community-based experiential training such as field placements and internships to increase the supply of students preparing to become peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals while also improving distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce. Stony Brook University can submit ONE application to the program. 

Please see below for details. If you are interested in applying, you must submit the internal competitions form by Friday, February 12, 2021. The competition code for this program is LC202112.

WHAT DOES IT FUND: The program objectives are:

  1. Increase the number of experiential training sites to promote peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessional student/trainee competencies around evidence-supported behavioral health.
  2. Enhance didactic and experiential training activities through the development of competencies in primary and integrated team based trauma-informed care.
  3. Establish community based partnerships to ensure participation in the institutions’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations, opportunities for field placements, community education, career development, and provide job placement services.
  4. Promote technology integration in the provision of peer support specialist and other behavioral health-related paraprofessional services and training programs, including utilizing telehealth services, implementing strategies to increase digital health literacy, and offering options for distance learning.
  5. Reduce financial barriers for peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals by providing financial support to trainees in the form of tuition/fees, supplies, and stipends.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: Trainees must be enrolled full or part time in the certificate program receiving the grant award in order to receive tuition and stipend support. In addition, trainees must be eligible to work in the United States. A trainee receiving support from grant funds under this program must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate. 

AWARD: If implementing only Level I pre-service training, applicants may apply for up to $350,000 total cost per year. If implementing Level I pre-service and Level II in-service training, applicants may apply for up to $500,000 per year. Applicants may request an additional $216,000 in the first year of the period of performance. The total period of performance is 4 years (September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2025).

SPONSOR DEADLINE: April 12, 2021