The Mentored Internship Program, a Behavioral Health Workforce Development (BHWD) initiative, allows nonprofit provider organizations, Tribal organizations, and county-operated providers of behavioral health services in underserved and diverse communities to apply for grants to support internship programs. Organizations can apply for up to $500,000 to develop, implement, and maintain an in-house Mentored Internship Program that will create a sustainable SUD workforce. Priority for funding will be given to organizations that propose to specifically train more professionals who work with individuals who have, or are at risk of developing, OUDs. 

 

The internship program intends to: 
 

1) Train behavioral health providers and professionals specifically serving individuals with, or at risk of developing, OUDs. 

2) Enhance the ability of behavioral health providers to effectively prevent, treat, and help individuals recover from opioid use. 

3) Better reflect the patients in need of services by providing career opportunities for behavioral health professionals with lived experience.

4) Help behavioral health agencies implement internships in conjunction with their local educational institutions beyond 2024 when grant funding ends.

5) Enable behavioral health agencies to make job offers to interns who have completed the program. 

 

Funded by Opioid Settlement Funds, the Mentored Internship Program project was established in 2022 in response to a variety of California-specific behavioral health workforce needs assessments and recommendations that showed a shortage of professionals across the spectrum of behavioral health careers. This program is part of DHCS’ broader efforts to expand California’s behavioral health workforce through the BHWD initiative, which seeks to improve access to, and productive participation in, behavioral health services across the state. The Round 2 application deadline is March 15, 2023, and this round of funding will further assist with mitigating the opioid crisis by providing comprehensive training to future behavioral health professionals.

To learn more about the BHWD projects and to apply for the second round of the Mentored Internship Program funding, visit https://www.workforce.buildingcalhhs.com/mentored-internship-program-request-funding-announcement. 

An informational webinar will be held on February 9, 2023. Join us for an informational webinar on