BHECN ARPA Project Summaries

Read summaries of each BHECN ARPA Project below. Use these links to jump directly to an award category:

Training and Education Opportunities
Telebehavioral Health in Rural Areas
Workforce Projects Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Supervision of Provisionally Licensed Providers

Training and Education Opportunities

Projects in this category expand educational pathways and training opportunities for students in behavioral health and early-career professionals. They often include stipends, structured supervision, internships, practicum placements, and professional development to strengthen the future workforce.

Organization: Doane University Contact: Courtney East	Project Description: This initiative broadens behavioral health training opportunities for graduate students across 10 eastern Nebraska counties: Clay, Dodge, Fillmore, Gage, Hamilton, Platte, Saline, Seward, Thurston, and York, ultimately improving access to care in underserved areas. The project also provides funding for supervisor stipends, professional development for trainees, and consulting services to enhance training and service delivery.
Organization: Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. Contact: Shirley Terry	Project Description: This project supports behavioral health interns through paid, structured training and supervision. Interns complete onboarding, clinical documentation training, and orientation before beginning hands-on experience. Each receives at least three hours of supervision weekly and participates in clinical team meetings, preparing them for future roles within Lutheran Family Services.
Organization: University of Nebraska Medical Center – Integrated Care Contact: Dr. Margaret Emerson	Project Description: This program trains students and postgraduate trainees in integrated behavioral health care across the professions of psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, physician assistant, and mental health counseling. It also develops multiple integrated care training models and offers incentives to encourage participation.
Organization: Heartland Family Services, Inc. Contact: Victoria (Tori) Cassidy	Project Description: This project funds a full-time training coordinator to oversee clinical internships and new staff training at Heartland Family Services. The role streamlines supervision, improves training consistency, and supports intern-to-staff transitions. Funding also offsets non-billable supervision time by licensed clinicians, enhancing intern support and workforce retention.
Organization: University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Contact: Dr. Therese (Terri) Mathews	Project Description: This project supports rural advanced practice nurses in earning post-graduate certification as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, enabling them to provide both primary and behavioral health care. The project creates multiple integrated care training models and incentivizes participation. Additionally, it expands access to inpatient psychiatric experiences for undergraduate nursing students by funding a dedicated clinical instructor.
Organization: Chadron State College Contact: Dr. Tara Wilson	Project Description: This project provides stipends to students completing clinical mental health internships. Each intern receives weekly individual and group supervision from licensed professionals in their placement counties. The program strengthens the pipeline of qualified mental health providers through structured training and financial support.
Organization: Monroe-Meyer Institute, Autism Care for Toddlers Clinics Contact: Dr. Regina Carroll	Project Description: This project supports trainees pursuing certifications or credentials in behavior analysis through personalized, high-quality supervision. Supervision is primarily in-person, with telehealth options available. The model, successfully used at the Autism Care for Toddlers Clinics, adapts to meet the needs of academics, certification, and trainees.
Organization: Great Plains Health Contact: Megan McGown	Project Description: This project supports a licensed mental health professional in completing an 18-month certification as a board-certified behavior analyst and provides funding for PLAY Project training for behavioral health clinicians. The PLAY trainees receive consultative and live supervision, travel support for fieldwork, and serve as “train-the-trainer” coaches to expand team capacity. They also train parents to implement interventions at home. Upon certification, the BCBA will supervise technicians working with children with autism, strengthening local autism services.
Organization: Nebraska Mental Health Centers Contact: Dr. Jill Zlomke McPherson	Project Description: This project supports psychology interns through a structured and intensive supervision model. Interns receive weekly individual, group, multidisciplinary, and didactic training, along with direct observation of clinical development. An open-door policy and on-site supervision ensure consistent support and collaborative learning throughout the internship.
Organization: Northeast Community College Contact: Alexis Huisman	Project Description: This project provides weekly supervision for mental health counselors and one licensed provider, with a focus on clinical activities, concerns, and service quality. Internship students also receive faculty-led supervision and formal evaluations aligned with academic program requirements. Additional project activities support trainings for campus clinicians and campus-wide engagement activities for students, faculty, and staff.
Organization: University of Nebraska Omaha Counseling Department Contact: Dr. Abby Bjornsen-Ramig	Project Description: This project expands the UNO Counseling Department by funding a clinical supervisor to support a second practicum section, doubling student capacity each semester. It also provides living stipends for practicum students training in the Community Counseling Clinic. Students receive intensive supervision and hands-on clinical experience focused on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Organization: University of Nebraska Omaha, Grace Abbott School of Social Work Contact: Dr. Alisha Olson	Project Description: This project supports social work practicum students in rural and frontier Nebraska by providing stipends to participants over three years. It funds weekly supervision by a licensed clinical social worker and supports evaluation efforts. Project goals include expanding rural practicum placements, reducing student financial strain, increasing access to rural clients, promoting self-care, and fostering long-term sustainability for graduates of the Grace Abbott School of Social Work.
Organization: Restore Rebuild Reconnect Counseling Center Contact: LaRhonda Flowers	Project Description: This project provides stipends and supervision for behavioral health trainees, including graduate and undergraduate students in counseling, social work, and substance use. Led by a dedicated training team, the program builds workforce capacity in medically underserved areas through hands-on training, supervision, and partnerships with local agencies to support future job placement.
Organization: University of Nebraska Omaha Counseling Department Contact: Dr. Praveen Kumar Rudra	Project Description: This project supports clinical internships for counseling students, offering intensive supervision and opportunities to build advanced clinical skills. It also funds specialized training in telebehavioral health and suicide intervention, equipping students to provide high-quality care during internships and in future practice.
Organization: LiveWell Counseling Center Contact: Jesica Vickers	Project Description: This project expands supervision for provisionally licensed behavioral health providers and supports interns through training and professional development. Interns maintain caseloads aligned with university requirements and receive weekly supervision under the Integrative Developmental Model. Funding also supports conference participation to enhance learning and professional growth.
Organization: Options in Psychology, LLC Contact: Drs. Anne Talbot, Mark Hald	Project Description: This project funds supervision for provisionally licensed psychologists and mental health practitioners. It supports continued internship training and intern travel within the High Plains Internship Consortium. Interns receive weekly individual and group supervision, along with monthly didactic training to build clinical competencies.
Organization: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Contact: Dr. Matthew Gormley	Project Description: This project prepares rural Nebraska residents to become certified school psychologists through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s EdS program. In partnership with Educational Service Units (ESUs) and rural schools, trainees receive tuition support, local supervision, and paid internships. The program follows a three-stage training model, comprising virtual coursework, a supervised practicum, and a full-time internship, with an emphasis on long-term rural workforce retention. Trainees are supported by licensed faculty and experienced school psychologists, with training tailored to meet the needs of rural areas and delivered through accessible virtual platforms.
Organization: Child and Family Therapy Institute of Nebraska, LLC Contact: Kris Steinbeck	Project Description: This project provides support to a behavioral health intern at Child and Family Therapy Institute through weekly individual and group supervision, in-session learning, and administrative assistance. Interns gain hands-on experience, community connections, and guidance on building a sustainable practice in rural Nebraska post-licensure.
Organization: Morningstar Counseling and Consultation Contact: Dr. Anitra Warrior	Project Description: This project supports the development and operation of an American Psychological Association-accredited internship program, funding travel for providing behavioral health services across Nebraska’s American Indian reservations. It also covers essential operating costs, including telehealth licensing and electronic medical record credentialing. Interns are trained using a developmental supervision model that adapts to each trainee’s growth stage, fostering clinical competence and critical thinking.
Organization: Western Nebraska Behavioral Health Contact: Dr. Cate Jones-Hazledine	Project Description: This project supports postdoctoral fellows and provisionally licensed mental health providers at Western Nebraska Behavioral Health. Funding also supports a part-time administrative assistant for data tracking and program coordination.
Organization: Youth Emergency Services, Inc Contact: Sarah Chevalier	Project Description: This project trains behavioral health practicum students over three years, providing them with supervision, stipends, and support for licensing and training fees. A full-time mental health supervisor oversees clinical services, crisis response, and student development. Trainees deliver on-site and telebehavioral health services across YES programs, including transitional living, shelters, and street outreach.
Organization: CEDARS Youth Services, Inc. Contact: Melissa Nance	Project Description: This project supports clinical interns and their supervisors annually, as well as contracted external supervisors. Interns receive individual and group supervision, co-facilitate therapy groups, and participate in multidisciplinary case consultations. Funding also covers additional clinical training and certification to enhance service quality and professional development.
Organization: HopeSpoke Contact: Wendi Anderson	Project Description: This project supports intern training, supervision, and professional development at HopeSpoke, including stipends, conference attendance, and training for the Active Parenting Program. It also funds clinical staff time for supervision. Project goals include increasing staff retention, expanding evidence-based competencies, growing rural practitioner participation, and building a recruitment pipeline for future clinicians.
Organization: Creighton University Contact: Dr. Sara Banzhaf	Project Description: This project supports Creighton University’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track by funding a project manager, adjunct faculty, and a student success coordinator. It provides students with tuition support, clinical travel stipends, textbooks, psychotherapy resources, and exam preparation. Preceptors receive training and stipends to supervise students during clinical placements, ensuring hands-on education and mentorship aligned with clinical competency goals.
Organization: Houses of Hope Contact: Tammy Stevenson	Project Description: This project funds paid internships for master's and bachelors’-level behavioral health students pursuing provisionally licensed mental health provider or provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor credentials. Interns are placed at Houses of Hope, where they receive weekly individual supervision, group supervision, and hands-on training in evidence-based practices, standardized reporting, and clinical assessment tools under the guidance of experienced supervisors.
Organization: Options in Psychology, LLC Contact: Drs. Anne Talbot, Mark Hald	Project Description: This project provides stipends and structured supervision for master’s-level behavioral health interns at Options in Psychology, LLC. Interns receive weekly individual, group, and consultation-based supervision, including opportunities for direct observation. All supervision is led by experienced in-house licensed clinicians.
Organization: Options in Psychology, LLC Contact: Drs. Anne Talbot, Mark Hald	Project Description: This project provides startup salary stipends and covers exam and licensure fees for postdoctoral psychologists. Trainees receive weekly in-person supervision, with additional support as needed. Funding sustains essential training efforts previously supported through non-reimbursable time.
Organization: Heartland Counseling Services Contact: Jennifer Jackson	Project Description: This project supports training for interns in counseling, social work, and substance use treatment. Heartland Counseling Services offers a structured internship program, led by dedicated coordinators and featuring strong partnerships with local schools and graduate programs.
Organization: Western Nebraska Behavioral Health Contact: Dr. Michael Staube	Project Description: This project trains psychology and mental health counseling interns in integrated care. Interns receive a monthly stipend, direct supervision from licensed clinicians, and opportunities for co-therapy, client care, and exam preparation. The program also supports pro bono service, study space, and progress tracking to help trainees meet licensure requirements.
Organization: Northeast Community College Contact: Dr. Jeffery Hoffman	Project Description: This project supports trainees in a drug and alcohol counseling certificate program through a 300-hour practicum with site-based supervision. Trainees receive stipends to cover the costs of laptops, textbooks, and expenses related to their practicum.
Organization: The Well Contact: Donny Larson	Project Description: This project trains counselor trainees and provisionally licensed professionals through internships and supervision. Trainees receive weekly supervision, educational materials, and software to support licensure. The Well offers a range of supervision formats to enhance clinical skills and prepare for certification.
Organization: Completely KIDS Contact: Ann Lawless	Project Description: This project annually hosts practicum students to deliver group therapy and psychoeducation in out-of-school settings for children aged 5–12. Students work with a diverse, bilingual team, receive supervision, gain certification in therapeutic modalities, and serve predominantly Latino/Hispanic families in a culturally responsive environment.
Organization: Mary Lanning Healthcare Contact: Kim Kern	Project Description: This project provides stipends to recruit and retain licensed mental health professionals, nurse practitioners, and nursing students for rural internship placements. On-site preceptors receive reimbursement for student supervision, and preceptors receive a lunch stipend on days they provide training. The project addresses challenges tied to long student commutes and limited local training programs.
Organization: Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral Healthcare Services, Inc. Contact: Chase Francl	Project Description: This project provides support for intern stipends, therapist training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, tuition reimbursement, access to the Relias Training Platform, and attendance at the 2024 National Council conference. It also funds in-house training led by the director of clinical services, enhancing staff development and retention.
Organization: CenterPointe, Inc. Contact: Nicole Osborne	Project Description: This project funds supervision of mental health and substance use counselor trainees. Amid ongoing workforce shortages, the support helps CenterPointe meet service demands by supplementing the cost of supervision for early-career staff across its system of care.
Organization: AM Counseling and Consulting Contact: Laura Sanchez	Project Description: This project offers paid internships to Latino graduate students in mental health, addressing financial barriers and underrepresentation in the field. Interns complete at least 500 hours of counseling services and receive training in evidence-based practices, cultural competence, and community-specific challenges through workshops, mentorship, and supervision.
Organization: Siena Francis House Contact: Michelle Bobier	Project Description: This project funds paid internships for students training to become social workers, mental health counselors, and substance use counselors. Interns gain clinical experience through the Miracles Program, which offers free residential treatment for individuals facing homelessness, addiction, and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Telebehavioral Health in Rural Areas

These projects enhance access to behavioral health services through the development of telehealth infrastructure, technology upgrades, and support for providers. They expand remote service delivery across rural Nebraska. Projects often include training, equipment, internet access, and provider certification for virtual behavioral healthcare.

Organization: Byran Telemedicine Contact: Andrew Whitney	Project Description: This project establishes telebehavioral health workstations at rural health sites. Provider workstations on the Boys Town campus enhance access and efficiency for delivering both virtual and in-person behavioral health services.
Organization: Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. Contact: Shirley Terry	Project Description: This project expands telehealth access across underserved areas through education, care coordination, and community partnerships. A dedicated director leads infrastructure development, aligns telehealth with in-person care, and oversees public education efforts, including mental health first aid and behavioral health presentations, to reduce stigma and increase service utilization.
Organization: Blue Elephant Counseling, LLC Contact: Katherine (Katie) Donahoo	Project Description: This project funds full-time telebehavioral health clinicians and expands staff capacity at Blue Elephant Counseling. It also covers startup costs for telebehavioral health services, enabling care in areas that are underserved by behavioral health. Providers completed telehealth certification to ensure high-quality virtual care across rural Nebraska.
Organization: Howard County Medical Center Contact: Katherine (Katie) Donahoo	Project Description: This project expands behavioral health services through the addition of two full-time clinicians and the launch of telebehavioral health at Howard County Medical Center and its Greely satellite clinic. It funds staff support, technology upgrades, and clinic space improvements to reduce access barriers and bring services to rural patients.
Organization: Evals By Eck, LLC Contact: Julie Eckland	Project Description: This project expands access to substance use evaluations via telebehavioral health for four groups: criminal justice-involved adults, rural hospital patients, individuals with access barriers, and those with complex needs. It also implements a community health model to coordinate care across stakeholders using a shared telehealth platform.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kingsley, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project funds technology upgrades to sustain telebehavioral health services across Wholeness Healing Center’s locations in Ord, Broken Bow, Kearney, and Grand Island. It supports equipment purchases and the creation of dedicated telehealth offices, expanding access to care in greater Nebraska while enhancing provider flexibility and service reach.
Organization: Midwest Encouragement & Counseling Center, LLC Contact: Jody Angel-Trejo	Project Description: This project expands Midwest Encouragement & Counseling Center’s telebehavioral health services by establishing a dedicated telehealth team and coordinator. Funding supports the purchase of high-quality equipment and lifetime access to evidence-based telehealth training. These investments enhance service delivery, staff development, and access to care in rural and frontier communities.
Organization: Live Well Counseling Center Contact: Jesica Vickers	Project Description: This project expands access to behavioral health services in rural Nebraska by upgrading the telehealth technologies at Live Well. It funds new computers, mobile hotspots, an updated switchboard, and Zoom licenses to support therapists. The project also enhances mental health education through monthly wellness presentations and online video content via Live Well’s school-based and employee assistance programs.
Organization: Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Contact: Dr. Jennifer McWilliams	Project Description: This project supports the statewide launch of Project COPE, which aims to equip Nebraska’s pediatric primary care providers with tools to identify and manage mild to moderate behavioral health conditions in youth. In partnership with Children’s Nebraska, the program provides rapid consultation, training, and referral support to help primary care physicians deliver care within their practices, thereby bridging gaps caused by Nebraska’s shortage of child psychiatrists.
Organization: Quality Healthcare Clinic, LLC Contact: Kristi Eggers, Tara Higby	Project Description: This project enables Quality Healthcare Clinic to restore behavioral health services by hiring a licensed telebehavioral health provider. Services will be offered both in-clinic and from clients’ homes. Funding supports licensing, continuing education, a sign-on and retention bonus, and all necessary equipment to deliver high-quality telebehavioral care in an underserved area.
Organization: Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. Contact: Jennifer Jackson	Project Description: This project provides iPads and internet service to clients, enabling them to access telebehavioral health care, along with device setup and training. It also funds the purchase of new computer systems to support staff. Care coordinators and support staff ensure clients are connected to services and aware of available telehealth options.
Organization: Nebraska Mental Health Centers Contact: Dr. Jill Zlomke McPherson	Project Description: This project enhances the Nebraska Mental Health Center’s telepresence capabilities to expand access to behavioral health services across rural Nebraska. It funds technology upgrades and telehealth training for clinicians, enhancing remote access to EHR systems, documentation, and teletherapy tools. These improvements increase flexibility, reliability, and service reach in micropolitan and rural communities.
Organization: Banisters Leadership Academy Contact: Akile Banister	Project Description: This project supports the delivery of mental and behavioral health services to youth and parents across rural Nebraska counties. Telebehavioral health services are offered at schools and nonprofit sites to eliminate technology and internet barriers, advancing Banister's Leadership Academy’s mission to strengthen families through youth leadership.
Organization: CEDARS Youth Services, Inc. Contact: Melissa Nance	Project Description: This project expands telebehavioral health access for youth and families by purchasing equipment for CEDARS’ residential, office, and early childhood sites, as well as loanable technology bundles. It funds clinician time, APRN-NP support, and essential supplies to ensure consistent care, including medication management, across rural Nebraska.
Organization: Health Center Association of Nebraska Contact: Rachel Heinz	Project Description: This project partners with the seven Nebraska Health Centers to provide training and telebehavioral health equipment for providers practicing within the health centers. Health Center Association of Nebraska is supporting the implementation of Project ECHO, as well as partnering with the Maven Project to help expand access and utilization of telebehavioral health services across the state.
Organization: Boone County Health Center Contact: Kayla Baker	Project Description: This project equips Boone County Health Center’s mental health department with a dedicated Electronic Health Record system and additional iPads with cellular service, enabling all therapists to offer telehealth services simultaneously. These upgrades improve access to care and recordkeeping for patients across the organization’s rural 5-county service area.
Organization: Pender Community Hospital District Contact: Jessica Bentley	Project Description: This project expands telehealth services in Northeast Nebraska, including therapy, senior outpatient behavioral health, emergency department mental health triage, and transportation support for patients accessing specialty telehealth care at Pender Community Hospital.
Organization: Compass Nebraska Contact: Ryan Stanton, Alisa Ryan	Project Description: This project expands Compass’s outpatient therapy services by adding two telehealth-specific offices and providing equipment and IT support to rural clients. It also funds sliding scale services and supports practicum students in gaining telehealth experience to help meet the behavioral health workforce needs in central and western Nebraska.
Organization: For All Counseling Services, Inc Contact: Makenzie Schmitt	Project Description: This project expands For All Counseling’s capacity to provide remote mental health evaluations to low-income immigrants and asylum seekers outside of Nebraska’s major metro areas. Funding supports contracted bilingual therapists and sliding-scale services, with care delivered via telebehavioral health and in-person in Spanish and English.

Workforce Projects Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-related initiatives address behavioral health workforce challenges through recruitment, retention, wellness, and resilience strategies. Common supports include hiring bonuses, professional development funds, stress-reduction training, supervision enhancements, and efforts to expand access in response to increased post-pandemic behavioral health needs.

Organization: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Contact: Dr. Kelli Hauptman	Project Description: This project, led by the Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children, reimburses Child Parent Psychotherapy clinicians for critical activities not covered by insurance, such as assessments, parent-only sessions, team meetings, progress reports, and consultations. The goal is to strengthen capacity across Nebraska by supporting clinicians with $80/hour reimbursements for eligible services.
Organization: Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. Contact: Julie Fisher-Erickson	Project Description: This project supports the recruitment and retention of behavioral health professionals at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska through hiring bonuses and compensation incentives. It aims to address staff shortages in underserved metropolitan and rural areas, meeting the increasing demand for care.
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Grace Abbott School of Social Work Contact: Dr. Susan Reay	Project Description: Led by the Grace Abbott Training and Supervision Academy, Project REST trains master’s-level behavioral health supervisors in rural Nebraska using the evidence-based FAN model. Designed to reduce burnout and improve emotional attunement, the project strengthens workforce retention through reflective supervision, in partnership with rural stakeholders and multi-campus university collaborators.
Organization: Chadron State College Contact: Dr. Brittany Helmbrecht	Project Description: This project establishes a campus wellness program to promote stress management, a sense of belonging, and overall well-being. In collaboration with campus counselors, the program will implement events addressing current behavioral health needs among students.
Organization: Tri Valley Health System Contact: Lynette Arambula, Jessica Fisher	Project Description: This project certifies employees as Crisis Prevention Intervention instructors, who will then train all staff, including both clinical and non-clinical personnel, in de-escalation techniques. The training equips staff to recognize and respond to mental health crises with empathy, safety, and self-awareness.
Organization: Restore Rebuild Reconnect Counseling Center Contact: Ashley Dougherty	Project Description: This project develops an online platform offering written resources, videos, tutorials, and podcasts to help staff reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. By promoting well-being, the initiative supports job satisfaction, retention, and long-term workforce sustainability.
Organization: HopeSpoke Contact: Wendi Anderson	Project Description: This project aims to enhance staff retention, particularly among clinicians, while minimizing disruptions to client therapy. Goals include increasing clinical retention, reducing turnover-related therapy disruptions, and engaging staff in wellness or team-building activities.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kingsley, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project funds a retreat for providers to attend Vital Hearts’ evidence-based resiliency training, addressing compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. It includes paid time off, travel stipends, and lodging to ensure full financial support while participants reset and build long-term coping skills.
Organization: BraveBe Contact: Christy Prang	Project Description: This project funds staff training in Mental Health First Aid for both youth and adults, Safe & Together, and Risking Connections. These evidence-based programs equip prevention professionals to recognize and respond to mental health concerns affecting staff and the workplace environment.
Organization: Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. Contact: Ann Behn	Project Description: This project funds a full-time credentialing specialist at Lutheran Family Services to manage insurance credentialing and licensing processes. By ensuring timely and accurate filings, the role helps expand access to care, reduce client costs, and prevent revenue loss from delayed or incomplete credentialing.
Organization: University of Nebraska at Kearney Contact: Dr. Maha Younes, Dr. Krista Friston	Project Description: This project establishes a three-credit Mental Health Literacy course at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, taught by a licensed counselor. The course integrates life skills and behavioral health training with a focus on inclusivity and wellness. Students will complete pre- and post-assessments and receive certifications in Mental Health First Aid, suicide awareness, trauma, communication, resilience, and de-escalation.
Organization: Miller and Micek Consulting, LLC Contact: Jennifer Miller and Julie Micek	Project Description: This project supports undergraduate and graduate students at Wayne State College through trauma-informed training, resilience-building tools, and individualized virtual coaching. Led by Miller and Micek Consulting in partnership with the Wayne State College Student Health and Counseling Center, the program includes assessments and follow-ups to evaluate the most effective strategies for fostering student resilience.
Organization: Scottsbluff Public Schools Contact: Wendy Kemling-Horner	Project Description: This project provides funding for licensed drug and alcohol counselor training and internship hours for staff members, as well as hiring a social worker/navigator to support students and their families. Scottsbluff Public Schools aims to strengthen behavioral health services and improve access to community resources in response to ongoing post-pandemic needs.
Organization: Howard County Medical Center Contact: Katherine (Katie) Donahoo	Project Description: This project offers retention bonuses to full-time behavioral health staff, supporting the sustainability of Howard County Medical Center’s new behavioral health program. It also provides recruitment incentives for additional full-time providers, helping expand access to counseling services across the community.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kinglsey, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project supports the retention and recruitment of clinical staff by funding annual professional development budgets, all-staff training, and therapy supply stipends. Full-time providers receive $1,500 annually for training and licensure, $500 for therapy supplies, and benefit from organization-wide training events. Part-time providers receive a $250 supply stipend.
Organization: Performance Coaching, LLC Contact: Dr. Brent Khan	Project Description: This project assesses the effectiveness of resiliency coaching for behavioral health graduate students, comparing the group and individual formats. Over 12 weeks, students receive coaching and complete pre- and post-assessments on resiliency, stress, optimism, and burnout. The goal is to enhance students’ ability to manage professional and personal stress and determine the most effective delivery method.
Organization: The Bridge Behavioral Health Contact: Jeanne Sidel	Project Description: This project supports employee retention by providing a paid day off on each staff member’s work anniversary and funding $350 annually in flexible spending accounts for all 50 employees. These benefits promote physical and emotional well-being, strengthen workplace morale, and enhance recruitment and retention efforts.
Organization: Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges Contact: Angela Melton	Project Description: This project partners the Nebraska State Colleges with the JED Foundation and Healthy Minds to assess and improve student mental health across three campuses. Through JED’s 18-month Campus Fundamentals program, each college will collect data, evaluate existing resources, and develop strategic plans to address current and future student mental health needs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kingsley, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project offers $10,000 hiring stipends to attract a psychiatric medication provider and full-time mental health practitioners committed to serving clients at Wholeness Healing Center’s rural Nebraska locations. It also funds $10,000 for promotional materials highlighting the region and community-focused care.
Organization: Completely KIDS Contact: Ann Lawless	Project Description: This project addresses the behavioral health impacts of COVID-19 on Completely KIDS’ mental health staff by promoting wellness, retention, and professional growth. Support includes bimonthly staff support groups, stress assessments, monthly team building, $3,000 in professional development funds per staff member, and training incentives.
Organization: OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc Contact: Adrea Skolkin	Project Description: This project addresses post-COVID workforce challenges by providing retention bonuses and professional development for current mental health staff, while expanding recruitment and outreach efforts to attract new behavioral health professionals to OneWorld and Nebraska.
Organization: Nebraska Mental Health Centers Contact: Dr. Jill Zlomke McPherson	Project Description: This project supports clinician retention, recruitment, and travel compensation to expand Nebraska Mental Health Center’s services in rural and micropolitan areas, including Fremont, Beatrice, and Wahoo. It addresses workforce challenges heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic to meet growing behavioral health needs.
Organization: Options in Psychology, LLC Contact: Drs. Anne Talbot, Mark Hald	Project Description: This project improves recruitment and retention of doctoral-level clinicians in Nebraska’s frontier areas by providing financial support for psychology interns relocating from out of state to participate in an American Psychological Association-accredited internship program.
Organization: Midtown Health Center Contact: Josh Turek	Project Description: This project trains behavioral health providers as Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors, who will then train staff from public and private schools. The goal is to equip school personnel with skills to recognize and respond to youth mental health needs and connect students with appropriate support services.
Organization: University of Nebraska at Kearney Contact: Christina Sis	Project Description: This project establishes a student ambassador program to recruit Hispanic students from Nebraska’s four most populous Hispanic counties into careers in behavioral health. It also provides internship stipends for students placed in underserved communities impacted by COVID-19, aiming to increase the diversity and long-term retention of behavioral health professionals in historically underserved areas.
Organization: Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. Contact: Jennifer Jackson	Project Description: This project places full-time, provisionally licensed mental health practitioners in rural schools, providing no-cost services to students and their families, regardless of insurance status. The initiative increases access to care by eliminating financial and scheduling barriers and supports the recruitment and retention of school-based providers.
Organization: Lincoln Medical Education Partnership Contact: Kelly Madcharo	Project Description: This project provides hiring bonuses to attract fully or provisionally licensed mental health practitioners to the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership. The goal is to recruit additional therapists within the year to address workforce shortages in a competitive hiring environment.
Organization: Heartland Family Services Contact: Victoria (Tori) Cassidy	Project Description: This project offers retention bonuses to clinical staff at Heartland Family Services, aiming to support workforce stability and reduce burnout, thereby encouraging continued employment in behavioral health roles.
Organization: Nebraska Alliance of Child Advocacy Centers Contact: Katie Good	Project Description: This project expands access to mental health services for children and families impacted by abuse and neglect across Nebraska. It also supports therapists by providing specialized training and resources to strengthen their ability to serve these vulnerable populations.

Supervision of Provisionally Licensed Providers

Projects provide structured supervision for provisionally licensed behavioral health professionals, interns, and postdoctoral trainees. Many initiatives include individual and group supervision, supervision-related training, mileage reimbursement, and credentialing support to help early-career providers meet licensure requirements and improve retention in Nebraska’s workforce.

Organization: Father Flanagan's Boys' Home Contact: Connie Schnoes	Project Description: This project funds additional supervision for doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows by supporting the efforts of three supervising clinicians.
Organization: University of Nebraska Omaha, Athletic Department Contact: Nate Brock	Project Description: This project expands behavioral health services for University of Nebraska Omaha student-athletes and other students through a trainee program embedded within the athletic department. Trainees receive weekly individual and group supervision, engage in professional development, and collaborate on case reviews to enhance care and workforce training.
Organization: Cirrus House, Inc. Contact: Brent Anderson	Project Description: This project supports the supervising staff therapist at Cirrus House by supplementing her salary to focus on recruiting and supervising interns and provisionally licensed therapists. It also funds travel to underserved areas and the development of additional supervisors to expand behavioral health services in rural western Nebraska.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kingsley, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project funds supervision for provisionally licensed mental health clinicians. Supervision is provided through individual, group, and crisis management support by the clinical director or designated clinical staff. As clinicians earn full licensure, new supervisees will be onboarded.
Organization: Restore Rebuild Reconnect Counseling Center Contact: LaRhonda Flowers	Project Description: This project expands supervision capacity at Restore Rebuild Reconnect Counseling Center through dedicated leadership and coordination roles. A contracted supervisor provides person-centered, solution-focused, and developmental supervision for interns and provisionally licensed counselors.
Organization: Options in Psychology, LLC Contact: Drs. Anne Talbot, Mark Hald	Project Description: This project funds supervision for provisionally licensed providers. The supervision plan includes weekly individual, group, and consultation hours, as well as opportunities for clinical observation. Supervision is provided by the clinic’s licensed psychologist owners and an in-house licensed independent mental health practitioner.
Organization: Midwest Encouragement & Counseling Center, LLC Contact: Jody Angel-Trejo	Project Description: This project supports provisionally licensed therapists as they work toward full licensure, providing them with weekly individual supervision via telehealth or in person, along with opportunities for group supervision and external consultation.
Organization: Live Well Counseling Center Contact: Jesica Vickers	Project Description: This project provides supervision for provisionally licensed behavioral health professionals per Nebraska licensing requirements. Each supervisee receives at least one hour of weekly supervision under a formal supervision contract, which supports the completion of the 3,000 required hours for licensure.
Organization: AM Counseling and Consulting Contact: Laura Sanchez	Project Description: This project provides supervision for behavioral health supervisees. Supervisees are matched through a structured process, including interviews, shadowing, and credential review, to ensure licensing alignment and a positive supervisory experience.
Organization: The Cord: Where Science Meets Connection, LLC Contact: Stefanie Armstrong	Project Description: This project offers clinical supervision, specialized training, and consultation to both provisionally licensed professionals and graduate interns, ensuring high-quality training, and workforce development.
Organization: Wholeness Healing Center, PC Contact: Jessica Kingsley, Janie Pfeifer Watson	Project Description: This project supports provisionally licensed behavioral health providers by funding stipends for exam preparation and fees, mileage reimbursement for clinical travel, and supervision as they progress toward full licensure. It also funds training and certification for independently licensed supervisors, including the clinical director’s pursuit of the Approved Clinical Supervisor credential.
Organization: Kindred Psychology Contact: Camie Nitzel	Project Description: This project strengthens supervision and training at Kindred Psychology by funding essential equipment, software, and supplies. It supports exam fees, preparation materials, insurance, and electronic health record access for trainees, while also covering licensure renewals for supervisory staff to maintain high-quality supervision and practice management.
Organization: Creative Counseling and Studio, LLC Contact: Yasmin Tucker	Project Description: This project provides supervision for limited-licensed behavioral health providers at Creative Counseling. Supervisors are experienced providers, ensuring high-quality professional development.
Organization: The Bridge Behavioral Health Contact: Jeanne Sidel	Project Description: This project funds dedicated supervision time for behavioral health supervisors overseeing provisionally licensed professionals, social work practitioners, and graduate students. Supervisors provide extensive weekly supervision hours throughout the project period to support workforce development and licensure progression.
Organization: Four Corners Health Department Contact: Laura McDougall	Project Description: This project provides supervision and hiring support for two clinicians at Four Corners Health Department. The providers gain experience in integrated care by delivering behavioral health services at York Medical Clinic and receive instruction on billing and documentation to support practice readiness.
Organization: Children's Hospital and Medical Center Foundation Contact: Sabrina Schalley	Project Description: This project funds postdoctoral psychology fellows at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, expanding the existing fellowship program ahead of the 2025 opening of the new Behavioral Health & Wellness Center. The program offers supervised clinical training to fellows with American Psychological Association-accredited backgrounds and experience in child and adolescent care.
Organization: Heartland Counseling Services, Inc Contact: Jennifer Jackson	Project Description: This project supports provisionally licensed mental health practitioners as they work toward full licensure through Heartland Counseling Services’ outpatient supervision program. It covers licensure fees and offers sign-on bonuses to encourage retention after licensure. Supervision includes weekly individual and group sessions, as well as additional administrative and supervisory coordination led by the clinical director.
Organization: Inspirit Counseling, PC Contact: Mandy Price	Project Description: This project provides supervision and training for supervisors to strengthen clinical practice in the Nebraska Panhandle. The long-term goal is to retain clinicians in rural and frontier areas by equipping them with the skills and support needed to sustain behavioral health services in underserved communities.
Organization: Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral Healthcare Services, Inc. Contact: Chase Francl	Project Description: This project provides supervision for provisionally licensed professionals at the Mid-Plains Center, led by licensed leadership across various disciplines. It also establishes a licensure study group with dedicated materials and curriculum to strengthen workforce readiness and promote long-term licensure success.