Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health (HBCU-CFE). The purpose of this program is to recruit students to careers in the behavioral health field to address mental and substance use disorders, provide training that can lead to careers in the behavioral health field, and/or prepare students for obtaining advanced degrees in the behavioral health field. The HBCU-CFE activities should emphasize education, awareness, and preparation for careers in mental and substance use disorder treatment including addressing opioid use disorder treatment, serious mental illness (SMI) (including First Episode Psychosis (FEP)), and suicide prevention. Applicants must emphasize: (a) strategies for developing student interest in the behavioral health field; (b) training (both classroom and experiential) that will lead to employment or advanced study in the behavioral health field, including internships, exposure to practicing professionals and other outside the classroom learning opportunities; (c) curricula enhancement and professional training for HBCU students, such as the development of courses or certificate programs on behavioral health topics (this shall include employment opportunity and salary information on the tremendous current and future need and demand for professionals in this rewarding field); and (d) infusion of information about behavioral health in related courses of study (e.g., pre-med, pre-dentistry, nursing, social work, psychology, addiction, school counseling, counseling).