Harrisonburg, Virginia — Free continuing education for behavioral health providers throughout Virginia is now offered by James Madison University.

Topics covered in the online training include integrative behavioral health, interprofessional team-based trauma-informed care, and rural health, and can be accessed from the Graduate Psychology website.

This training was prepared with funding from a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Office of Health Resources Services.

Amanda Evans, project manager, said:

In addition to training materials, behavioral health providers in several counties in central Virginia will receive support from JMU graduate psychology students over the next three years.

MSc and Ed.S. undergraduate students who began working in schools and clinics last year provide training to community-based partners in Augusta, Greene, Louisa, Page, Rockingham, Lockbridge and Shenandoah counties. and receive scholarships from grants in providing assistance.

Evans said she and co-directors Kelly Atwood, Tammy Gilligan, and Michele Kierti have dubbed Rural Interdisciplinary Service and Education: Unlimited Potential (RISE-UP) a program that encourages students to visit local counseling centers and schools. said he works as a clinical intern at

Over the four years of the grant, students studying to become clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, or school psychologists will receive 12,900 hours of clinical service in more counties classified as health professional shortage areas. Robin Anderson said it plans to offer. , Head of Graduate Psychology.

“It’s a great win-win,” said Anderson. “Students often have to go through these training experiences without compensation. Now they are training in areas of high need, giving the county more time.”

Anderson said he hopes the program will also encourage students to look for jobs in the countryside after graduation.

The funding is from HRSA’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program.

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Media Contact: Eric Gorton, gortonej@jmu.edu, 540-908-1760

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