Berkshire Community College (BCC) has been awarded a $1,080,231 grant from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program called Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET). The four-year grant will provide stipends, partial reimbursement of tuition and fees, and supplies for up to 15 students per year enrolled in BCC's Mental Health, Addiction Recovery and Human Services certificate programs. Grant funds will also support hiring a project coordinator and a mentor/coach for students.
We're ecstatic to receive this grant, which will allow us to provide Berkshire County with a steady stream of human service professionals. This diverse group of students will be ready to enter the workforce to assist high-risk and medically underserved communities, which are in critical need of qualified employees.
In addition to overseeing project activities, the project coordinator funded by the grant will help recruit diverse students and expand relationships with field placement sites in the community. Meanwhile, the mentor/coach will provide academic and personal support to students to help them progress and complete the program. Technology will be integrated into the curriculum to support distance learning and to prepare students for the state-of-the-art components within the human services field.