海角社区

In collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at 海角社区, this program bridges the gap between degrees and licensure by providing: Salary stipends and supervision for clinical licensure. Access to study resources, licensure application reimbursement, and monthly group supervision. Clinical roles in community settings, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations. By reducing barriers, we will increase the number of fully licensed professionals while diversifying the workforce to reflect the communities they serve.

The Challenge

Over 50 million people in the U.S. 鈥斕�about 1 in 7听鈥� experience mental illness, yet there is听only听1 mental health provider for every 350 individuals.听In Colorado, this shortage is especially severe, with听twice as many vacant mental health jobs听compared to similar-sized regions.

 

Despite earning advanced degrees,听57% of master鈥檚-level graduates听never achieve licensure听due to financial, regulatory, and time barriers, disproportionately impacting underrepresented groups.

The Solution

The Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Collaborative

In collaboration with听, the听, and the听Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at 海角社区, this program bridges the gap between degrees and licensure by providing:

  • Salary stipends听and supervision for clinical licensure.
  • Access to听study resources, licensure application reimbursement, and monthly group supervision.
  • Clinical roles in community settings, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations.

By reducing barriers, we will increase the number of fully licensed professionals while diversifying the workforce to reflect the communities they serve.

Program Goals

  1. Increase percentage of master鈥檚 degree graduates who become licensed in the state of Colorado
  2. Increase number of patients served by partially qualified pre and post master鈥檚 candidates.
  3. Increase diversity (e.g., race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language, geographic and cultural) of fully licensed master鈥檚 level mental health professionals in the state of Colorado
  4. Improve Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) health professional shortage area scores in identified target communities.

Program at a Glance

  1. Timeline: May 2024 – September 2025.
  2. Reach:听87 candidates, 36 fellows, 21 participating sites, 6 universities.
  3. Current Fellows: 15 finishing their final year of their graduate program.
  4. Current Candidates: 58 post graduate candidates working to achieve licensure.

Get Involved

  • 颁补苍诲颈诲补迟别蝉:听Our next Post-Master’s Cohort begins in July 2025. to receive more information when our next recruitment cycle opens.
  • Fellows: Interested in becoming a fellow?
  • 厂颈迟别蝉:听Mental health organizations across Colorado can apply to host candidates for Cohort 5 starting in June 2025. Learn more about site requirements or to receive a link to the application as soon as it opens.
  • 顿辞苍辞谤蝉:听Support future iterations of this program and help sustain its impact. Contact Ally Veneris, [email protected], for more information.
Learn more about site requirements

Participating Sites

Why It Matters

With rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, the need for licensed mental health providers has never been greater. By addressing financial and systemic barriers, the Colorado Mental Health Workforce Accelerator is building a more equitable, effective, and accessible mental health system for all.

Contact Us for More Information

Email Us

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-615-0029

Office Location:
1027 9th Street
Denver, CO 80204

Mailing Address:听
Campus Box 8
P. O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362听

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