The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is allocating $2.9 million to support students in a behavioral health program as part of a broader initiative to address the state’s shortage of mental health providers.
With one in seven Michiganders living with a serious mental illness and a concerning ratio of one behavioral health provider for every 360 residents, Michigan faces a critical shortage in mental health services. The path to becoming a mental health professional often involves extensive unpaid internships, adding financial strain to students.
To mitigate this challenge, MDHHS has launched the MI Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program (MI-BHISP). This program aims to increase the number of mental health professionals by offering stipends of up to $15,000 to eligible students.
Amber Myers, who oversees Michigan’s healthcare workforce programs, highlighted the program’s impact: “The stipend aims to ease the financial pressure on students, allowing them to focus on their professional growth and educational experience, rather than worrying about how they will afford it.”
In July, the state announced a $3.5 million investment in the program. This round of funding will see $2.9 million distributed to 210 students who are placed in unpaid internships. The program received over 1,000 applications, necessitating a prioritization based on internship locations and the counties with the greatest need.
Myers noted that applicants from counties with fewer mental health providers, such as Wayne, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, and Arenac, were given priority for the stipends.
While the program is designed to support students pursuing advanced degrees, limited funding has restricted the availability of awards for those seeking bachelor’s degrees. As Myers explained, “Because we prioritized PhD and master’s students, we were unable to extend funding to bachelor’s degree students.”
The stipends are distributed in two payments, with amounts varying based on the number of required internship hours. Students completing between 401 and 600 practice hours can receive the full $15,000, while those with 80 to 200 hours are eligible for $5,000. The funding is intended to cover tuition, books, and living expenses, supporting students as they prepare to enter the behavioral health workforce.
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