Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training Program

The WVU School of Social Work has been awarded a 2021 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) program.  The goal of the program is to prepare MSW students for behavioral health practice, with a focus on integrated and culturally appropriate rural service delivery. 

The WVU School of Social Work has been active since 2012 in preparing MSW students for integrated behavioral health practice through the Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Training Program (IMBTP). The IMBTP was initially developed and implemented in 2012, following an award of a Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training (MBHET) grant from HRSA. The program was later expanded and re-named as the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) program with the support of subsequent HRSA 2014 MBHET grant and a 2017 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant. The current 2021 BHWET grant from HRSA funds the program through 2025.

The Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) program provides $10,000 in stipend support for advanced field placement to 25-30 MSW students per year to focus their studies on integrated behavioral health practice across the lifespan. The RIBHT program emphasizes prevention and clinical interventions for behavioral health conditions across the lifespan with particular focus on collaborative, team-based models of care in rural integrated behavioral health and primary care settings.  Opportunities for students in the training program include specialized coursework and field placements, interprofessional training workshops targeting skill development for integrated behavioral health practice, intensive mentoring, and leadership development.  The 2021 award for RIBHT will support 4 cohorts of students with graduation dates of May 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.  Interested applicants apply the year prior to their advanced year in the MSW program.

Advantages to participation in the RIBHT include the following:

• Specialized field placements in behavioral health settings that emphasize integrated models of service delivery and foster trainee connection with leaders in the local service delivery system
• Enrollment in specialized coursework and training workshops that focus specifically on behavioral health practice and integrated models of service delivery including:

2. integrated prevention and treatment services;

3. integrated child and family services;

4. integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment;

5. integrated school and community services.

• Individualized mentorship, professional networking opportunities, leadership development, and employment placement support