Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska

- Programs and Training Overview
- - Lifelong Learning Fund
    BHECN's Lifelong Learning fund supports educational and career engagement opportunities to help grow our state's behavioral health workforce.
  - Graduate Trainee Stipend Program
    The Graduate Trainee Stipend Program financially supports master's-level students during select advanced practicum or internship experiences.
  - Mentoring Program
    BHECN's mentorship program provides guidance and support to undergraduate and graduate-level students seeking licensed behavioral health careers in Nebraska.
  - BHECN Scholars
    The BHECN Scholars program supports undergraduate seniors who plan to pursue master’s degrees in Nebraska-based behavioral health programs.
- - Project PEACE
    Project PEACE is a series of web-based modules designed to equip primary care providers with skills and knowledge to address behavioral health concerns.
  - Telehealth Training
    Following the COVID-19 pandemic, day-to-day use of telehealth allows people to connect safely and effectively to mental health services no matter where they are located.
- Partnerships Overview
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Education Partnership (NEBHEP)
  BHECN partners with the 20 academic institutions to track the number of graduate-level behavioral health education students graduating and staying in Nebraska.
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Training Partnership
  BHECN establishes partnerships to create and disseminate educational materials for the development of the behavioral health workforce.
- Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance
  The Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance (BHWCA) is a network of behavioral health workforce development centers from across the United States.
- Advisory Groups
  BHECN’s advisory groups provide input that shapes our work and help us keep up with the latest challenges and issues facing Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce.
- Research, Data & Policy Overview
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Workforce Dashboard
  The dashboard helps policy makers, employers, and behavioral health care stakeholders understand the state of the behavioral health workforce.
- Legislative Reports
  BHECN's biennial legislative reports examine the characteristics of actively practicing behavioral health providers in Nebraska.
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Policy Forum
  This forum discussed how investments in BHECN are being used to recruit, train, and retain behavioral health and rural healthcare providers across Nebraska.
- ARPA
  Access information related BHECN’s allocation of $25.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to Nebraska behavioral health providers.
- BHECN's Published Research
  See a listing of BHECN's published research.
- BHECN Sites Overview
- BHECN Panhandle
  Our BHECN Panhandle site supports our mission of recruitment and retention of behavioral health professionals in Western Nebraska.
- BHECN Central
  BHECN Central is a remote site for training and workforce development at the University of Nebraska Kearney that serves the central part of the state.
- BHECN Northeast
  BHECN Northeast is a remote site based at Wayne State College that facilitates training and workforce development in Northeast Nebraska.
- BHECN East
  BHECN East is located at the UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work and focuses primarily on the behavioral health workforce needs of the Omaha area.
- BHECN Southwest
  BHECN Southwest is a remote site based in North Platte that facilitates training and workforce development in Southwest Nebraska.
- BHECN Southeast
  BHECN Southeast is headquartered at Region 5 Systems and focuses on meeting the behavioral health workforce needs of Southeast Nebraska.
The Nebraska Model

Behavioral Health Leadership Academy

Photo of leadership training.

Behavioral health providers are highly trained in the clinical care of patients but often lack formal training in leadership. However, many of the same skills that make a good behavioral health provider – such as empathy, active listening, and problem-solving – also serve as strong foundations for effective leadership. By equipping behavioral health professionals with leadership skills, we can enhance behavioral health initiatives across the state and create a lasting, positive impact on the well-being of all Nebraskans.

BHECN and the UNMC Department of Psychiatry are excited to announce the launch of the Behavioral Health Leadership Academy. In collaboration with leadership expert Julia Hebenstreit, this initiative aims to develop and empower behavioral health professionals to become strong leaders in their communities and organizations.

Program Details

The Behavioral Health Leadership Academy will sponsor 10 behavioral health providers from across the state of Nebraska to participate in a one-year leadership training at no cost to the participants. The academy will provide participants with a structured curriculum designed to foster leadership growth and professional development within the behavioral health field.

Objectives

Participants in the Behavioral Health Leadership Academy will:

Identify Personal Strengths and Management of Team Dynamics – Gain insight into their individual leadership styles, strengths, and areas for growth, while also understanding team dynamics and collaboration.
Learn Leadership Skills Specific to Behavioral Health – Develop leadership competencies tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within the behavioral health field, including advocacy, systems thinking, and change management.
Network and Develop Relationships with Other Leaders – Build meaningful connections with other behavioral health professionals across Nebraska, fostering collaboration and innovation within the field.

Application Process

The selection process for the Behavioral Health Leadership Academy will be competitive, with priority given to behavioral health providers who demonstrate a commitment to leadership development and community impact.

The application cycle for the 2025-2026 cohort is now open.