Photo courtesy of UTPB.
UTPB receives $10M in grants to bolster mental health workforce in Permian Basin
The Permian Strategic Partnership, a coalition of 20 energy companies that invests in a broad range of initiatives aiming to improve quality of life in the Permian Basin, recently joined the Scharbauer Foundation in providing $10 million in grants to the University of Texas Permian Basin to strengthen the mental and behavioral health workforce in the region, according to a report by UTPB.
UTPB will use the funds to cover tuition and mandatory fees for graduate students who live in one of 22 counties in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico and who are majoring in clinical phsycology, social work, counseling or school counseling. Scholarship recipients will agree to remain in the Permian Basin as a working mental health professional for at least three years.
Eligible students must submit their scholarship applications by Aug. 1 to qualify for a scholarship this coming fall semester. Decisions in the competitive application process will be released by Aug. 15.
Note: students with a bachelor’s degree in any subject are eligible for this grant simply by enrolling in graduate programs in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or Social Work. The program will cover tuition and mandatory fees for up to three years. For a full list of qualifications, criteria, and to view frequently asked questions, visit here.
“Our goal is to grow the next generation of behavioral health providers in the Permian Basin,” said UT Permian Basin President Dr. Sandra Woodley. “This funding will allow so many students the opportunity to earn a high-quality master’s degree – with little to no debt! Thanks to the support of the PSP and the Scharbauer Foundation, we can now remove the financial burden so students can focus on having a significant impact in this region by becoming excellent counselors, psychologists, or social workers.”
Added Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership, “Caring for the overall welfare of Permian Basin residents goes beyond physical health; it includes ensuring access to mental and behavioral health professionals,” said “Through our partnership with the Scharbauer Foundation and UTPB, we are taking a crucial step toward fulfilling the demand for comprehensive healthcare services in the region. Together, we are building a robust network of behavioral health resources that will serve as a lifeline for our community.”
