Nbccf minority fellowship program for addictions counseling (MFP-AC) - the national board for certified counselors (nbcc) foundation, in partnership with naadac, the association for addictions…

Nbccf minority fellowship program for addictions counseling (MFP-AC) - the national board for certified counselors (nbcc) foundation, in partnership with naadac, the association for addictions professionals, proposes to continue the minority fellowship program for addictions counselors (MFP-AC). The MFP-AC will improve the quality and quantity of services for racial and ethnic minority populations by supporting post- baccalaureate training for substance use disorder and addictions counseling professionals. The goals of the MFP-AC are: 1) to increase the number of culturally competent substance use disorder professionals who teach, administer services, conduct research, and provide direct substance use disorder services to racial and ethnic minority populations; and 2) increase the knowledge of substance use disorder behavioral health professionals on issues related to prevention, treatment, and recovery support for individuals who are from racial and ethnic minority populations and have a substance use disorder. The MFP-AC will recruit underrepresented students and will encourage specialization in addictions/substance abuse services to underserved minority communities, particularly people with serious mental illness/serious emotional disturbance; child/adolescent, women's, and geriatric groups; minority communities in inner cities and rural areas; refugee and migrant groups; minority persons including lgbtqi+; and those who are active-duty military, veterans, or from military families. The MFP-AC will use federal funds to support master's-level degree stipends, infrastructure development and behavioral health care specialty training. Annually 43 fellowships will be awarded to master's-level addictions counselors-in-training at accredited institutions and specialty training will be provided to 1000 other substance use disorder behavioral health professionals. The MFP-AC will assure that 60% of fellows graduate within 2 years of the fellowship award and 90% graduate within 3 years of the fellowship award. Further, 85% of fellows will be employed as substance use disorder professionals serving racial and ethnic minority communities within 1 year of graduation. Over the proposed 5-year period, 215 fellowships will increase the workforce and 5000 working professionals will be better prepared to provide substance use disorder services to racial and ethnic minority communities.