The Kim Foundation is partnering with the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska to help address Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce shortage.
Under a new agreement, the foundation has committed to investing in the Graduate Trainee Support Program and the BHECN Scholars Program. These programs assist undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing careers in behavioral health in Nebraska.
“Nebraska is experiencing a significant behavioral health workforce crisis,” said Molly Mullin Verble, MEd, executive director of The Kim Foundation. “Communities across the state are facing increasing rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide, while the supply of qualified behavioral health professionals remains insufficient.
“By partnering with BHECN, we hope to strengthen the pipeline of future behavioral health providers and improve access to care across the state.”
The Kim Foundation, founded in 2001 and based in Omaha, works to prevent suicide and promote mental health through education, community programming and partnerships across Nebraska.
As part of the new agreement, both organizations also will formalize information-sharing and joint planning efforts to ensure that funded programs align with statewide workforce needs. This coordinated approach will help BHECN and The Kim Foundation track workforce trends, identify areas of highest need and implement targeted initiatives that maximize the impact of the foundation’s investment.
BHECN and The Kim Foundation have long engaged in strong collaborative efforts, said BHECN Director Marley Doyle, MD. The BHECN team is excited to enter a new phase of partnership and work more directly with the foundation to address the behavioral health workforce shortage.
“We couldn’t be happier to begin this new partnership with our friends at The Kim Foundation,” Dr. Doyle said. “We are confident that this collaboration will improve lives across the state.”