More than 100 students at Case Western Reserve University—most of them social workers in training—have been learning how to help meet a growing need in communities starved for behavioral health workers, thanks to a $1.9 million federal grant to the university’s interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program in 2021.
The four-year grant, from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been providing specialized training for social work, psychiatric nursing and doctoral psychology students. Some of the behavioral health issues include the treatment of complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorders and exposure to adverse childhood experiences—such as maltreatment, experiences of domestic violence and parental substance use.
Amy Korsch-Williams, the initiative’s principal investigator, a senior instructor, and faculty affiliate of the Center on Trauma and Adversity said as of April 2025, the program includes:
- 62 social work trainees,
- 5 psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner trainees enrolled at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and
- 3 doctoral psychology trainees who have completed their training at MetroHealth.
Social work and nursing students all complete training in community sites across Cuyahoga County.
The program has provided stipends ranging from $10,000 at the masters level to $40,000 for doctoral students.
I interned in the Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry department at MetroHealth, where I provided therapy and intake services for a diverse population, including many Spanish-speaking families. The structured, interdisciplinary setting gave me hands-on experience with trauma-informed care, collaboration across specialties, and exposure to the many services within a large hospital system, which makes it easier to meet patients' needs and provide more holistic, informed care. I’m excited to continue this work as a full-time intake worker and psychotherapist at MetroHealth starting in July!
— Ruth Bieber-Stanley (MSW '25)
The goal of the integrated behavioral health training program is to grow and strengthen the workforce that supports mental health in Northeast Ohio—especially for children, teens and young adults in communities with the greatest need:
- Expanding hands-on training opportunities so more students can build real-world skills in prevention and treatment using proven methods.
- Offering interdisciplinary, community-based training that brings together behavioral health and primary care, helping students learn how to support people facing complex mental health challenges.
- Improving access to care by increasing the number of trained professionals and working to build a more diverse workforce that better reflects and serves underserved communities.
Having a field placement through the HRSA grant allowed me to practice in a direct clinical setting with close supervision and support. I was able to build my confidence in being a social worker while getting to know my clients and their communities, as well as the resources available in the broader Cleveland area. I feel prepared and excited to practice as a licensed social worker in the community, since I have been doing very similar home-based and trauma-informed work at my field placement for the past year. Having funding through the HRSA grant alleviated stress from financial burdens and allowed me to focus on my growth and competency as a social worker.
— Allie Pail, MSc (MSW '25 and Leadership Fellow)