Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program is sponsored by University of Arizona College of Nursing. Traineeships and scholarships for select PMHNP DNP students, preparing graduates to expand access to care by strengthening the supply and distribution of a highly trained behavioral health workforce.

BHWET Program | University of Arizona College of Nursing Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training Program The BHWET program offers select Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP students traineeships and $32,500 scholarships to help offset the cost of PMHNP training.

The program prepares graduates to expand access to care by strengthening the supply and distribution of a highly trained behavioral health workforce. BHWET 2027 APPLICATION FORM Application open now for 2027 clinical cohort students! Application deadline: July 6, 2026 , before 11:59 PM Please email questions to Lydia Parra , BHWET Program Coordinator: lparra1@arizona.

edu The University of Arizona Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program aims to increase the supply of skilled licensed behavioral health practitioners, guided by collaborative, team-oriented care.

The initiative focuses on cultivating a new generation of comprehensive mental health care teams by immersing DNP PMHNP students and psychology interns in designated training sites, with an emphasis on those serving high-demand, rural, and underserved areas. LEARN MORE: Expanding Care Where It’s Needed Most: Nursing leads $2.

3M grant to train mental health providers for Arizona’s underserved regions Funding per PMHNP Student Stipends may be used to defray educational and travel/commuting/housing expenses associated with PMHNP training within rural and underserved communities. Awarded stipends will be divided over three semesters. Total $32,500.

00 for the 2027 year DNP-PMHNP students starting the clinical year in Spring 2027 Full-time, degree-seeking students in excellent academic standing Committed to practicing in rural and underserved healthcare settings Must be a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a foreign national holding a visa that permits permanent residence in the US Must be eligible to sit for national certification as a PMHNP upon graduation Must obtain one reference from a College of Nursing faculty member.

Forward this link to your faculty member for completion: https://form. jotform.

com/261036263650148 A 12-month primary clinical experience at a rural, medically underserved BHWET community partner site in Arizona Complete virtual didactic educational experiences at least twice monthly, including but not limited to SBIRT training, grand rounds, case studies, trauma-informed care modules, telehealth modules, enhanced Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), and interdisciplinary discussions Arizona Rural Health Professionals Conference (virtual) in April 2027.

(1 ½ days) Arizona Rural Health Conference – First week of June 2027 in Flagstaff.

Expenses covered (2 days) Annual one-day virtual BHWET conference TBD Apply for your National Provider Identifier (NPI) by the start of the spring semester on January 14th, 2027 Attend monthly advising sessions with an assigned faculty mentor Complete your DNP project focused on a quality improvement issue at your BHWET site Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program Health Resources and Services Administration Wednesday, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029 Specialty Coordinator, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Associate Clinical Professor Member of the Graduate Faculty My name is Jeff Amoako , a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at the University of Arizona and a proud BHWET scholar.

I have experience in behavioral health settings serving diverse patient populations, where I have developed strong clinical skills in assessment, therapeutic communication, and patient-centered care. My passion is improving access to mental health services through early identification, integrated care, and evidence-based treatment.

I am particularly interested in working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Through my training, I aim to provide compassionate, holistic care, advocate for underserved populations, and contribute to advancing mental health care delivery.

My name is Kayla Landy , I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP–PMHNP) student on track to graduate fall 2026, with over 14 years of experience as a registered nurse across various acute care departments and organizations.

My clinical background, including travel nursing in rural and underserved communities throughout the country, has shaped my commitment to expanding equitable access to high-quality mental health care.

Being born and raised in a medically underserved community in rural New York, I am particularly interested in integrated behavioral health models within primary care and community-based settings, with a focus on reducing stigma and improving access to mental health care.

As a trainee in the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (BHWET) , I aim to advance culturally competent, evidence-based care and ultimately serve rural and underserved populations through clinical practice, advocacy, and system-level change.

The opportunities I’ve been able to participate in and the experience I have gained working with individuals living in rural communities through the BHWET program have been invaluable in achieving these goals. My name is Carly McKazel , I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner candidate in the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing - Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

I've worked in multiple psychiatric settings as a registered nurse, including inpatient units, a medical detoxification unit, and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs across the United States.

My inpatient experiences have all been in urban underserved communities, and I have been addressing behavioral health workforce shortages in IOP/PHP programs as a telehealth psychiatric nurse for the past two years, including for patients in rural areas. I am grateful that the BHWET program is supporting my current preceptorships as I move into advanced practice.

Through BHWET, I am currently serving patients on Arizona’s Medicaid plans (AHCCCS) in outpatient behavioral health settings focused on community mental health, early psychosis intervention, court-ordered treatments, and pediatric psychiatry. My passion lies in addressing structural vulnerabilities that contribute to mental health disparities, especially poverty-related barriers.

Current interests include psychotic disorders, forensic psychiatry, violence prevention, and psychiatric ethics. The BHWET program has been a great experience so far, and I am thankful for the opportunity! This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a 4-year award totaling $2.

3 M, with 0% of funding from nongovernmental sources. The contents of this page are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, visit HRSA.

gov .