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The purpose of this traineeship is to build on the successful outcomes of the previous project (2017-2019) awarded through HRSA. “Partners in Practice, Engagement, & Education in Rural NC: Preparing Nurse Practitioners for Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care: Vulnerable Populations” (PEER NC: NP-BHI/PC-VP; T94HP30882) is a continuation grant that will: Educate, train and provide financial support (traineeships) for new primary care nurse practitioners to provide integrated (mind/body), clinically competent and culturally sensitive whole healthcare to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in rural and medically underserved areas within NC.

The Behavioral Health Integration Scholars traineeship (BHI Scholars) is an exciting program for UNC-CH nurse practitioner students (FNP, AGNP, PNP and PMHNP) who are interested in learning about behavioral health integration. Students who are selected for this program will have the opportunity to gain additional education and training in whole healthcare to integrate behavioral health into the primary care setting or, for the PMHNPs, understand how in their specialty practice they can collaborate and consult with primary care providers to deliver a whole health approach to their patients. This is done through weekly seminars lead by Primary Care and Behavioral Health Education Team Leads who facilitate each seminar and bring in content experts to speak to the BHI Trainees about a variety of topics around behavioral health and substance use disorders that they will likely see in the rural and/or medically underserved communities where they are working post-graduation.

Additional benefits to the BHI Scholar Trainees include:

  • Being a part of an elite group of graduate students who receive advanced education and training to focus on whole health care and integrating behavioral health into primary care (the first and only program of its kind in NC!)
  • We assist in placing our BHI Trainees who are primary care NPs at rural or medically underserved practice sites for their clinical placements and provide recommendations for specialty psychiatric sites for PMHNP students
  • Receiving mentoring from UNC SON faculty and coaches on the grant team
  • Forming peer support groups and have opportunities to join interprofessional teams
  • Being on the cutting edge of NP Practice

 

Sign up here to receive updates on the Behavioral Health Integration Traineeship.

The application to be a part of the Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Scholars Traineeship for the 2024-2025 academic year is currently closed.

 

Behavioral Health Integration Traineeship: Frequently Asked Questions

 

Are you looking for employment in rural and/or medically underserved areas? You can view positions on HRSA’S Health Workforce Connector

https://connector.hrsa.gov/connector/