Green Bay and La Crosse, Wis.-based Emplify Health and Milwaukee-based Marquette University have partnered on a pilot program to train and retain mental health counselors in Northeast Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The Resch Mental Health Initiative will support 25 students through Marquette’s online master’s program in clinical mental health counseling, according to an Oct. 22 news release from the university. Participants will complete a 100-hour practicum and 900-hour internship at Emplify Health facilities. Following graduation, they will pursue 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work under Emplify staff to meet licensing requirements.
The initiative includes full-tuition scholarships, stipends, mentorship, professional development and employment opportunities. Graduates will also be eligible for sign-on and retention bonuses.
Debbie Patz, RN, vice president of behavioral health for Emplify Health, said in the release the program aims to eliminate financial and logistical barriers for aspiring counselors. It hopes to address a projected shortage of 300 mental health counselors in rural regions over the next five years.
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