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Engage & Recruit Students

Ambassador Program helps students explore careers in behavioral health.
Prepare & Train Students

BHECN provides support to students and trainees in behavioral health fields.
Retain & Support Current Workforce

Support the current workforce through professional development, training and resources.
Workforce Overview

BHECN evaluates the behavioral health workforce in Nebraska.

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) recruits & educates students in behavioral health fields and trains & retains professionals already in the workforce. Learn more

Psychiatric Nursing Summit Update - Join Us!
Register today for the Psychiatric Nursing Workforce Summit
Every nurse is impacted by mental health in some way, whether it is via patient challenges or personal struggles. It is imperative for every nurse, not just those who are specialists, are educated and well prepared to most effectively help those who are struggling with mental health issues. The Psychiatric Nursing Workforce Summit allows nurses who are passionate about improving patient lives to be at the forefront of collectively addressing the gap in mental health services from all angles, through education, practice changes, and legislative and policy actions. Read more.

Mental Health Series in Lincoln Journal Star
The Lincoln Journal Star has featured a series of articles on Mental Health. The article on July 3 by Riley Johnson is linked here: Is telehealth the answer to Nebraska's mental health care shortage? (Other articles can be found linked to this article at the Lincoln Journal Star website.)

The artwork in the logo for the Journal Star's mental health series is an acrylic painting, "Dreamback the Elder," by Nigel Magor.

Webinar Series Featuring Dr. Tina Chasek

Tina Chasek, Ph.D., LIMHP, LADC and director of BHECN Kearney participated in a three-part webinar series for the Midwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center on Recruitment and Retention.

Dr. Chasek presented for 20 minutes on Wednesday, July 25 and shared examples of how BHECN is building the rural workforce in Nebraska. The ATTC is an international, multidisciplinary resource for professionals in the addictions treatment and recovery services field. For more information about the ATTC Click Here.

Ambassador Spotlight

Lequisha Sims is a licensed mental health professional in Omaha currently working towards her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. BHECN met Lequisha when we gathered the 15 behavioral health training programs for a daylong seminar last April. Read more.

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)

Project ECHO is a virtual consultation model where physical and behavioral health providers can call in and receive recommendations on a patient case. Each Project ECHO series focuses on a specific health topic, and experts on that topic are present to provide recommendations. This Project ECHO call series focuses on Pain and Substance Use Disorder and allows providers the opportunity to make recommendations on cases and learn from their peers’ presentations.
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Farm Camp - Six Years of Fun and Education
Farm Camp (Frontier Area Rural Mental-Health Camp And Mentorship Program) is an annual week-long summer program designed to give rural students the opportunity to connect with mentors working in behavioral health careers in rural communities. Currently, in its 6th year, the camp’s continued success lies in the passion the Farm Camp Leadership Team has for the work. Read More

ACE Award Winners Selected
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), pronounced “beacon,” has selected five programs for 2018-2019 to receive BHECN’s Ambassador Career Engagement Awards. Launched in June of 2017, the awards give funding to the local community groups who offer introductory programming to educate Nebraska students, primarily in rural or underserved communities, about behavioral health professions. Read More

BHECN Webinars

BHECN recently wrapped up a series of webinars as part of the "Core Topics for Behavioral Health Providers." The following recorded webinars are available to view at any time: View the recorded webinars here.

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