The BRIGHT Project builds on the school’s mission to address community health needs through innovative, interdisciplinary education. The program will support 77 graduate students—42 in
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and 35 in
Occupational Therapy (MSOT)—as they prepare to serve children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for mental health and behavioral disorders.
Each student will receive a $25,000 stipend to fund their final year of clinical training in high-need, high-demand areas.
Meeting a Critical Workforce Shortage
The project responds to severe shortages of behavioral health professionals in several targeted counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Wyoming in New York, and McKean, Potter and Warren counties in Pennsylvania. In some of these regions, the ratio of residents to mental health providers exceeds the national average by more than 10 to 1.
Community-Based Training Partnerships
To help close this gap, the BRIGHT Project places students in federally qualified health centers and community-based clinics serving medically underserved populations. Key partners include:
Explore Opportunities & Stipends
MSOT students, view your informational sheet about the BRIGHT Project
CMHC students, view your informational sheet about the BRIGHT Project