ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure University has been awarded a four-year, $2.3 million federal grant to expand and strengthen the behavioral health workforce in rural communities across Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

The grant, provided by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, will fund St. Bonaventure’s new BRIGHT Project — Behavioral Health Resources for Increasing Growth in Healthcare Training.

The BRIGHT Project will support 77 graduate students — 42 in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and 35 in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) — preparing them to serve children, adolescents and young adults at risk for mental health and behavioral disorders. Each student will receive a $25,000 stipend to support their final year of clinical training in high-need, high-demand areas.

“This investment from HRSA reflects the urgent need for integrated, compassionate behavioral health care in rural America,” said Dr. David Hilmey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “We’re proud to help meet that need by training and supporting a new generation of health care professionals.”

The project addresses critical shortages of behavioral health professionals in eight targeted counties where the ratio of residents to mental health providers can be more than 10 times the national average.

Seven of the eight counties — Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Wyoming in New York, and McKean and Potter in Pennsylvania — are designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by HRSA. Only Warren (Pa.) County doesn’t have that designation.

In response, the BRIGHT Project will place trainees at federally qualified health centers and other community-based clinics serving medically underserved populations. Partners include the Lionel R. John Health Center of the Seneca Nation, the St. Regis Mohawk Health Center, the Chautauqua Center and the Cattaraugus County Department of Community Services.

Students will gain hands-on experience in team-based care models that integrate behavioral health into primary care, while also completing interprofessional training in trauma-informed care, mental health first aid, and pediatric behavioral health.

A central focus of the initiative is improving access to care for youth with developmental delays and behavioral health challenges, who often face significant gaps in early intervention services, especially in rural settings.

The BRIGHT Project also aims to reduce barriers to training and practice for students from economically disadvantaged or first-generation backgrounds. In the most recent applicant pool for the university’s MSOT program, 33% identified as first-generation college students and 40% came from low-income households.

To support student success, the program incorporates mentoring, online peer-support platforms, individualized academic assistance, and resilience-building resources. Clinical site supervisors will also receive professional development in behavioral health best practices, cultural competence and telehealth delivery.

St. Bonaventure’s DePerro School of Health Professions launched the initiative in collaboration with the university’s accredited graduate programs in Counseling and Occupational Therapy. The BRIGHT Project builds on the school’s mission to serve community health needs through innovative, interdisciplinary education.

Graduates of the program will be expected to pursue employment in rural and underserved communities, where they are urgently needed.

“Too many families in our region lack access to essential behavioral health care,” said Dr. Darla Kent, director of SBU’s Occupational Therapy program and the BRIGHT Project director. “This funding gives us the tools to change that by preparing providers who understand our communities and are committed to meeting them where they are.”

More than 83% of the BRIGHT Project’s annual operating budget is dedicated to student stipends. The program will also expand community partnerships, develop telehealth capabilities, and establish a Community Council of regional stakeholders to guide its work and sustainability.

For more information about the project, email Kent at dkent@sbu.edu.