Lessons Learned From the Implementation of a Federal Behavioral Workforce Diversity Grant at a Predominantly White Institution

The Health Resources Services Administration’s (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant program is a unique opportunity for social work programs, as well as other disciplines such as counseling, to address shortages in the behavioral health workforce and support integrated care approaches and interprofessional collaboration. BHWET programs support Anti-Racist, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Justice (ADEIJ) goals through recruitment and training of historically underserved and underrepresented students. In this preliminary program review, we explain program structure, institutional context, and demographic data to share lessons learned after 3 years of program implementation. We provide specifics on financial institutional policies which created financial barriers to underserved and underrepresented students, particularly students of color, participating in this federally funded training grant program.