Ambassador Program

Ambassador Program
introduces Nebraska high school and
college students to behavioral health careers

Norfolk High School student Abby Stewart was one of hundreds of Nebraska high school and college students who learned about behavioral health careers through the Ambassador Program.

Ambassador backstory: why BHECN was created.
What is the Ambassador Program?
What is its goal?
Are students interested in rural health care careers?
What behavioral health professions do students learn about?
What student activities does the Ambassador Program include?
How can your high school or college participate?

Ambassador backstory: why BHECN was created.
In 2009, the Behavioral Health Workforce Act (Legislative Bill #603) established the 
Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) in response to a severe statewide shortage of behavioral health professionals.

The Legislative bill asked BHECN to grow the behavioral health workforce and to
prioritize the need for additional professions by location.

BHECN’s statewide workforce analysis found that the greatest need was in small-town and rural Nebraska. For example, in 2011:

• 88 out of 93 Nebraska counties had little or no access to mental health care. The vast majority of the state’s psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychologists were practicing in Lincoln and Omaha.
• Over half of the state’s behavioral health providers are over the age of 50, suggesting that the workforce shortage will worsen without action.

BHECN Job One: recruit and mentor behavioral health professionals for small-town and rural Nebraska — and thus the Ambassador Program was born.

What is the Ambassador Program?
It introduces rural students statewide to behavioral health careers. It recruits and mentors students — from high school to
 college through professional school — and into practice as behavioral health professionals.



What is its goal?
To develop a behavioral health workforce for rural Nebraska by investing in students from
 rural Nebraska and connecting them with information and resources to explore behavioral 
health careers, especially in small towns and rural Nebraska communities.

Are students interested in rural health care careers?
Very interested. For example:

• At outreach events at the UNMC College of Public Health and Wayne State Community College, over half of the 200+ rural high school attendees expressed interest in behavioral health careers after a brief presentation.
• BHECN’s first annual High School Ambassador Conference in Kearney is slotted for up to 60 students at the two-day event.

Now, let’s go beyond interest. Do those students actually pursue health care education?

• Of 41 students who thus far participated in our College Ambassador Workshop, 12 are currently enrolled at UNMC (5 in medical school, 5 in pharmacy, and 2 in nursing).

BHECN’s Ambassador Program drew inspiration from a successful state program for rural high school students called RHOP — Rural Health Opportunities Program — which created a primary care pipeline for rural Nebraska.

RHOP is a partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Wayne State College, and Chadron State College in which rural high school students are pre-admitted to UNMC in 9 different professions including medical school and nursing. Peru State College just added an RHOP program for students who are pre-pharmacy.

Does RHOP work for Nebraska? The answer is a resounding yes — and thus serves as the model for BHECN’s Ambassador Program.

Since its inception in 1991, 71% of RHOP graduates are practicing in Nebraska, with the majority of medical school graduates selecting primary care careers in rural areas. More information at http://www.unmc.edu/rhen/RHOP.htm

What behavioral health professions do students learn about?
The Ambassador Program acquaints students with the entire spectrum of behavioral health professions and education required, including:

• Psychiatrist
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Physician Assistant
• Case Manager
• Peer Support Specialist
• Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Substance Abuse Counselor

What student activities does the Ambassador Program include?

• presentations, workshops and conferences — introducing students to the entire range of behavioral health careers and professions.
• opportunities to meet and talk to behavioral health professionals — including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, pharmacists, case managers and peer specialists.
• job shadowing — giving students a clear picture of what behavioral health professionals actually do.

How can your high school or college participate?
For more information about the Ambassador Program — or to arrange a presentation for students — contact Ann Kraft (402) 559-3398 | akraft@unmc.edu