Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) for Paraprofessionals and Professionals | Apply Online

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) for Paraprofessionals and Professionals (HRSA-16-193) - FAQs

1) What is the BHWET for Paraprofessionals and Professionals program (HRSA-16-193)?

BHWET (HRSA-16-193) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under CFDA 93.243. The FY 2016 competition was positioned within the White House "Now is the Time" initiative and is intended to strengthen the nation's behavioral health workforce.

2) What does HRSA mean by "behavioral health" in this opportunity?

In this funding opportunity, behavioral health is defined broadly and includes both mental health services and substance use services.

3) What is the main goal of this grant program?

The core goal is to expand the pipeline of trained behavioral health providers who are prepared to serve children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth, particularly those who are at risk of developing behavioral health disorders or who already have them. A major emphasis is on reducing access gaps by increasing the number of well-prepared practitioners entering and staying in the field.

4) Which populations are emphasized for training and service?

The program emphasizes training tied to work with children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth, especially those who are at risk for behavioral health disorders or who already have behavioral health needs.

5) What approaches or clinical philosophies does the program emphasize?

The announcement highlights prevention, early intervention, and family involvement in treatment. HRSA also signals a strong preference for approaches grounded in existing evidence-based practices and programs.

6) Does this grant support general workforce development activities?

No. The program expects more than general workforce development. Funded education and clinical training must be tied directly to experiential learning through internships and field placements, and those experiences must specifically focus on work with at-risk children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth.

7) What are the two funding tracks under BHWET?

BHWET is structured around two distinct tracks with different required activities and budget rules: (1) a paraprofessional track and (2) a professional track.

8) What is the paraprofessional track designed to support?

The paraprofessional track is built around certificate-level training for behavioral health-related roles. It supports students who are new entrants as well as current workers seeking additional credentials to improve employability.

9) What student costs can be covered under the paraprofessional track?

Paraprofessional projects must use funds to help students complete a paraprofessional certificate by covering tuition, fees, and supplies (within the program's per-student limit).

10) Is there a maximum amount per student for paraprofessional support?

Yes. The maximum that can be requested for paraprofessional student supports is $2,000 per student for a 12-month period.

11) How much of a paraprofessional project budget must go directly to student support?

At least 85 percent of the total requested paraprofessional budget must go directly to student support for tuition, fees, and supplies.

12) How much of a paraprofessional project budget can be used for administration and management?

Up to 15 percent of the total paraprofessional budget can be used for administrative and management functions tied to recruitment, expanding program slots, building partnerships, evaluation, and dissemination.

13) What capacity-building is required in paraprofessional projects?

Paraprofessional projects must expand training capacity by creating additional slots in certificate programs.

14) Are partnerships required for paraprofessional projects?

Yes. Paraprofessional projects must build partnerships with community organizations that support recruitment of diverse students and provide field placements, career development, and job placement services.

15) What kinds of employment settings are paraprofessional trainees expected to be prepared for?

Training content is expected to prepare students for employment in nonprofit and public settings such as public health agencies, social service organizations, and behavioral health providers that serve at-risk youth and families. The announcement emphasizes preparation for a broad range of functions rather than narrow task training.

16) What is the professional track designed to support?

The professional track focuses on graduate-level clinical trainees and emphasizes paid experiential training through stipends for internships and field placements.

17) What is the required length of internships or field placements supported by professional-track stipends?

Supported internships or field placements must last no less than six months and no more than twelve months.

18) Which students can be supported under the professional track?

Eligibility for stipend support is limited to: doctoral-level psychology interns in APA-accredited internship programs; masters-level students in professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or psychology programs; and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs.

19) Do professional-track supported students have to be close to graduation?

Yes. Supported students must be in their final field placement before graduation and entry into practice.

20) How much of a professional project budget must be used for student stipends?

At least 70 percent of the total requested professional-track budget must be used for student stipends during internships or field placements.

21) What are the HRSA-funded stipend amounts in the professional track?

Stipend amounts charged to HRSA are fixed at $10,000 per year for each masters-level student and $20,000 per year for each doctoral-level psychology intern.

22) Are BHWET stipends considered wages or salaries?

No. The stipends are intended as subsistence allowances to help with living expenses during training and cannot be treated as wages.

23) Can professional-track stipends be used for tuition, fees, or health insurance?

No. Stipends cannot be used for tuition, fees, health insurance, or other program costs.

24) Can an institution pay a lower stipend amount than HRSA specifies?

No. Grantees cannot pay less than the stated stipend amounts using HRSA funds.

25) What if an institution wants to provide stipends higher than the HRSA amounts?

If an institution wants to provide higher stipend levels, it must cover the difference with non-federal funds.

26) Are there consistency requirements for stipend policies?

Yes. Stipend policies must be consistent within the institution, including payment schedules and procedures.

27) What happens if a supported trainee leaves the placement early?

If a trainee leaves early, the stipend must be prorated, and the grantee is expected to contact HRSA to determine next steps for any remaining funds.

28) Is there an additional requirement for doctoral-level psychology internship stipends?

Yes. Applicants supporting doctoral-level psychology interns must show how they will leverage other resources and align with Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) stipend expectations. Because HRSA provides a fixed $20,000 per intern per year, any shortfall relative to relevant regional standards must be covered with non-federal dollars, and the application must include a written statement explaining this in the budget narrative justification.

29) Does the professional track require interprofessional training?

Yes. Professional track applicants must develop and implement interprofessional training and support integration with primary care, reflecting HRSA's emphasis on team-based care and coordinated service delivery.

30) Are grantees expected to increase youth-focused training placements?

Yes. Both tracks require increasing the number of youth-focused training placements and tying training to experiential learning in settings focused on at-risk children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth.

31) What does HRSA require related to cultural competence and workforce diversity?

Applicants are expected to recruit and train students from varied racial and ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic circumstances, and other demographic groups, and to build training environments that strengthen intercultural understanding and cultural fluency. The intent is both representation and capability in delivering effective, respectful care across cultures.

32) Is program evaluation required?

Yes. Evaluation is not optional. Grantees are expected to collect program data and share results with appropriate audiences. Both tracks also include expectations for dissemination of results.

33) Is there a required student commitment letter?

Yes. HRSA requires that a student commitment letter template be included in the application (identified as Attachment 9). It is intended to document that supported students will complete the required internship or field placement and intend to pursue employment serving at-risk children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth with behavioral health needs.

34) Do students need to be informed about impacts to financial aid?

Yes. Grantees must advise students that receiving BHWET support could affect their financial aid packages, and students should be informed ahead of time about institutional financial aid policies.

35) Can professional projects pay for additional trainee supports like travel or conferences?

Yes, but not from the stipend portion. For professional programs, additional trainee supports beyond the stipend (such as health insurance, travel, training expenses, or conference attendance) must be paid from the portion of the budget allowed for administrative and management activities (up to 30 percent), not from the stipend allocation.

36) What were the key dates for the FY 2016 posting?

The opportunity was posted May 9, 2016, with a closing date of July 1, 2016.

37) How many awards did HRSA anticipate making?

HRSA anticipated making 26 awards.

38) What does it mean that the synopsis lists an "award ceiling" of 0?

The announcement lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates applicants should consult program-specific guidance or that funding levels may vary by applicant type and proposal rather than being capped in the synopsis.

39) Who is eligible to apply based on the synopsis?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.

40) What is the overall model HRSA is funding through BHWET?

Overall, the program is a workforce pipeline investment that ties federal dollars to direct student support, structured clinical training in youth-serving settings, measurable program outcomes, and a clear commitment to diversity, cultural competence, and cross-disciplinary care integration.