Baylor’s BRIDGE Program Marks Four Years of Success in Building the Behavioral Health Workforce

Over the past four years, the Garland School of Social Work (GSSW) has received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This funding addresses critical shortages in the nation's mental health workforce.

Under the leadership of Principal Investigator Dr. Becky Scott and Dr. Elissa Madden, we successfully developed and implemented the Baylor BRIDGE Training and Certificate Program. The program recruits, trains, and supports a diverse group of emerging social work professionals in evidence-based, interdisciplinary behavioral health practices with youth and emerging adults.

Since welcoming our first cohort in Fall 2021, the BRIDGE program has trained 108 MSW students, providing $1,070,000 in trainee stipends and 59,400 practicum hours in behavioral health and integrated primary care settings. The project has enhanced existing clinical training sites, developed new experiential training opportunities, and increased field placements in medically underserved and rural areas. Students received comprehensive training in substance use treatment, health equity, and integrated behavioral health in primary care settings. GSSW leveraged the HRSA resources to create and enhance academic courses, training workshops, field placement practicums, and continuing education offerings. Over the four-year funding cycle, a total of 27 IBH training workshops were offered to students, Baylor faculty, and community practitioners. 338 hours of CEU credits were issued to community practitioners. In addition to each student completing 550 hours of their advanced standing practicum in an integrated behavioral health setting, students received 45 hours of direct instruction through an academic course offered by the GSSW. 

Acknowledgments

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who supported this vital work. Special recognition goes to Geobani Betancourt, who served as BRIDGE Program Manager throughout the entire project, overseeing contracts, procurement, student recruitment, and training coordination. We also thank Dr. Danielle Parrish, who provided continuous evaluation services across all four years.

Our program benefited immensely from the expertise and guidance of our HRSA Project Officers, Kaitlyn Craig, Rennisse McKinley, and Alita-Geri Carter. Together, we worked toward the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program's core mission: to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals, improve workforce distribution, and expand access to behavioral health services.