Graduate Trainee Support Program
The Graduate Trainee Support Program is a learn and earn opportunity that financially supports master's-level students during their advanced practicum or internship experiences that serve rural, public sector, or justice-involved communities. To be eligible to apply, students must have confirmed practicum or internship experiences, be in good academic standing, and intend to practice in Nebraska after graduation. The program receives generous support from The Kim Foundation.
Student Eligibility Requirements
Students must meet the following four requirements to be eligible:
Master’s-level students must be enrolled in one of the following programs:
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Bellevue University MS Clinical Mental Health
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Chadron State College MAE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
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Concordia University MS Marriage and Family Therapy
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Doane MA in Counseling w/a specialty in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
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Nebraska Wesleyan University Master of Social Work
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UNK MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling
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UNL MA Counseling Psychology - Community Counseling Track
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UNL MS Marriage & Family Therapy
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UNMC MS Applied Behavior Analysis
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UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work Master of Social Work
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UNO MS Applied Behavior Analysis
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UNO MS in Counseling with a Concentration in CMHC
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Wayne State College MSE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Many academic programs require students to complete a practicum, internship, or similar hands-on training as part of their coursework. The GTSP is designed to support students during their final required training experience before graduation, whether referred to as a practicum (for social work students) or an internship (for others).
What qualifies as a final experience?
This final placement typically occurs in the last semester(s) of your academic program and involves a higher number of required hours—often 400 or more.
When should I apply?
Apply during the semester before you begin your final experience. For example, if your internship begins in the fall, you should apply during the summer application period.
Not sure when to apply?
Contact your academic advisor for guidance before submitting your application.
Students are responsible for developing their practicum or internship experience and ensuring the experience is confirmed before applying for this program. Eligible sites and experiences must serve one or more of the following populations in Nebraska.
Students must secure placement at a training site and be officially accepted before applying for BHECN funding. As part of the BHECN application, the training site is required to complete a verification form. Therefore, you must have a confirmed supervisor and a secured training spot to fulfill your required experience.
Rural Workforce Shortage Areas
Experiences in this category should be in or serving communities in rural mental health professional shortage areas.
Public sector
Experiences in this category should be at the following facility types:
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Community Mental Health Centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Nonprofit Social Services Agencies
- Veterans Affairs Clinics
Justice-Involved
Experiences in this category must be at one of the following facility types:
To align with BHECN’s mission, students applying to this program must intend to practice in Nebraska after graduating from their academic program.
Payments
Students accepted into this program are eligible to receive up to $20,000 over the length of their experience. Payments will be divided equally based on the number of months the experience lasts and will be deposited into the student's account on a monthly basis.
Supervisors of students may receive up to $5,000 per student upon the completion of the student's experience. This payment is intended to support the supervisor(s) and will be divided accordingly if a student works at multiple locations or has more than one supervisor. Supervisor payments will be issued after the student's experience concludes and a short completion survey has been submitted.
Please note: State employees are not eligible to receive a supervisor payment for providing supervision in this program. For any questions, please consult your HR representative.
The student support follows a tiered structure:
Payment Tiers
| Tier | Placement Hours | Student Payment | Supervisor Payment |
| Tier 1 | 200 hours or less | $2,500 | $1,000 |
| Tier 2 | 201-499 hours | $10,000 | $2,500 |
| Tier 3 | 500 hours or more | $15,000 | $5,000 |
*An additional $5,000 bonus is available for students who complete their experience at a justice-involved facility. Only facilities specifically listed on our website under "justice-involved" in the "eligible sites and facilities" are eligible based on our statute. Students working with justice-involved individuals at facilities not listed on our website will not qualify for the bonus.
Please refer to the FAQ section below for important information regarding the tax implications of this funding.
Applying for the Program
Applications for the Graduate Trainee Support Program are accepted three times each year. Students should apply during the academic term immediately preceding the term in which they will begin their final practicum or internship experience.
Students who have already started completing practicum or internship hours are not eligible to apply.
If you hold a graduate assistantship through your university, you may not be eligible to receive this funding. Please check with your university representative before submitting your application.
Application Periods:
- March 10 – April 10: For experiences beginning in the Summer (typically May or later)
- June 10 – July 10: For experiences beginning in the Fall (typically August or later)
- October 10 – November 10: For experiences beginning in the Spring (typically January or later)
Applications submitted outside of these designated application periods will not be considered.
Applicants will be notified by BHECN regarding their funding decision within 30 days of the application cycle's closing date. The Graduate Trainee Support Program is highly competitive, and funding is limited. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Prepare to Apply
A strong Graduate Trainee Support Program application clearly demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to a behavioral health career in Nebraska and shows how their final practicum or internship will prepare them to serve rural, public-sector, or justice-involved communities. Strong applications provide specific, thoughtful responses; demonstrate relevant experience and a clear connection between the training site and the applicant’s career goals; and are supported by professional application materials.
We recommend reviewing the information below and gathering your materials before starting the application. This will help ensure you have everything needed to complete your application.
- The name, city and state of your behavioral health academic program
- Your current cumulative GPA and expected graduation date
- The name and email address of your academic supervisor or program coordinator
- A current CV or resume
- Information about any employment you hold within the University of Nebraska System (UNK, UNL, UNO or UNMC), if applicable
- One required letter of recommendation from an applicable academic or professional source describing why you should be selected for the program
- One additional optional letter of recommendation from an applicable academic or professional source
- Your anticipated start and end dates
- The total number of placement hours required
- Your primary training setting: rural, public sector or justice-involved
- Information about each training location if you will complete your experience at more than one organization
- A signed and completed Final Experience Eligibility Form
- A signed and completed Experience Confirmation Form/acceptance letter
- Compensation you will receive from your training site
- Scholarships or grants awarded to support your training time
- BHECN ARPA funding
- Your hourly compensation amount, if known
Be prepared to answer the following:
- What motivated you to enroll in your behavioral health program?
- What factors influenced your decision to choose this location as your experience site?
- What are your career goals, and how will completing your training experience at your selected organization help you achieve those goals?
- Please provide a personal statement that helps us learn more about you. Describe the experiences, background or interests that have shaped your educational and professional journey and your interest in serving rural, public-sector or justice-involved communities.
- Why do you believe it is important to remain in Nebraska as a behavioral health professional, and how will this experience enhance your ability to practice in the state after graduation?
Ready to apply?
Once you have gathered the required information and documents, you can begin your application.Apply for the program here.
FAQs
How do I develop a practicum or internship experience for this program?
Students should follow the guidelines from their academic programs when developing their experiences to ensure that practicum or internship course requirements are met. Students and their academic supervisor or practicum/internship coordinator must confirm the experience before submitting an application.
If I am not accepted into the program during the first semester of my experience, can I apply again during another semester after I have already started completing hours?
No. The program is intended to support students at the start of their practicum or internship experiences.
What if my practicum or internship spans multiple semesters or courses?
It is common for academic programs to have practicum or internship courses and experiences that last multiple semesters. These experiences are allowed if the total number of hours required by the academic program will be completed consecutively across the semesters.
Is my payment subject to tax withholding, and will I receive any tax documents for reporting purposes?
Your payment is considered taxable income but is not subject to automatic tax withholding, meaning no taxes will be deducted from your payment. For a U.S. taxpayer student, if the total payments equal or exceed $600 in a calendar year, they will be reported as 1099-NEC income to both you and the IRS. You will receive the 1099-NEC form at the end of the year for tax reporting purposes.
This income is classified as payment for services performed as an independent contractor, not as an employee. We recommend consulting a tax professional to understand the potential impact on your tax return and financial aid status. Please note that BHECN cannot provide tax advice.
A GTSP success story
Read how the GTSP helped Cherie Ryan become a licensed social worker.