Behavioral Health Care to Medically Underserved Youth

Touro College has been awarded a four-year $1.7 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to offer master’s students from its Graduate School of Social Work and School of Health Sciences interprofessional training and paid fieldwork to help at-risk youth.

The grant is geared to help in medically underserved areas, where the risks are multiplied and community resources are often scant or non-existent.

“We are honored to participate in this program,” said Touro College and University System President Dr. Alan Kadish. “We have made interprofessional education a priority across all schools, and as one of the largest healthcare educators in the country, Touro is uniquely positioned to train students to tackle the serious problems of youth suffering from – or at risk of developing – mental and behavioral health disorders and disabilities caused by violence, abuse, trauma, drugs, and other harmful events.”

Applications are now open for fall 2021 for advanced students earning their master’s degrees in social work, clinical mental health counseling and occupational therapy. Students will learn to provide care in teams, collaborating in classes and fieldwork with youth aged 12 to 24 through internships in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester.

The award is the fourth in the past five years, bringing the total amount of Touro’s HRSA funding to over $9 million since 2016. Touro is one of a number of schools in the United States and in New York State to participate in the $66 million Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program grant.