Diversifying the Pipeline: Behavioral Health Internship Pipeline Program (BHIPP) Expansion
The Behavioral Health Internship Pipeline Program (BHIPP) aims to create a pipeline focused on a diverse population of behavioral health providers–racial/ethnic minorities, individuals from rural communities, and those with linguistic diversity are given priority. Following the success of the program's first two years, we received additional funding from the Scarlet Feather Fund.
“BHIPP has evolved dynamically since its inception three years ago,” says Tinamarie Fioroni, LMHC, Senior Director of Workforce Optimization at the Mass League. “Our responsiveness to the needs of health centers and our commitment to equity have been instrumental in this evolution.”
The program targets interns who are completing their graduate degrees in preparation for becoming a licensed social worker, licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or psychologist. These behavioral health providers in training are nominated for this program by the community health center (CHC), where they’ve been selected to complete their clinical internship placements.
The program includes a $25,000 stipend for nominated interns and $10,000 in support for supervisors and admin staff involved with the intern at the CHC. Interns participated in four learning community sessions over the year, with topics related to integrated care, the community health center movement, and health equity. An additional $40,000 in student loan repayment incentive is available for interns who accept employment at a CHC in Massachusetts.
BHIPP is made possible by the MGB-funded Equitable Care Collaborative, as well as the additional funding from the Scarlet Feather Foundation. Fioroni added, “Thanks to both organizations’ commitment to the Mass League's vision, we have been able to enhance our impact.”
For more information, including eligibility and application guidelines, please review the Program Overview
All Cover Sheets are due by May 24th, 2024, 5:00pm EST.
This post is part of the Workforce Matters at the League newsletter, a resource for community health centers created by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
