min program fell

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February 13, 2007
For immediate release

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has chosen the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School as one program to study as a model for cultural competency training. The department was nominated because of its skill in training scholars and psychologists particularly concerned about culture, race, ethnicity, diversity, at-risk populations, and disparities in mental health care. SAMHSA – an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services – is conducting this research as part of its Minority Fellowship Program.

Michael Furlong, Chair of the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology says, “Our faculty and students are commitment to discovering the most effective strategies to provide mental health services that respect the cultures of California’s diverse communities.”

The Counseling, Clinical, School Psychology Department (CCSP) is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association as a combined doctoral psychology program. It adheres to a scientist-practitioner training model; therefore, heavy emphasis is placed on developing academic, research, and practitioner knowledge and skills of students. The Department provides students with multidisciplinary training that leads to Ph.D., M.A. and M.Ed. degrees and an Applied Psychology Minor for undergraduates. CCSP was awarded the inaugural Suinn Minority Achievement Award from the American Psychology Association.

The primary goal of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is to support doctoral training for ethnic minority mental health/substance abuse social workers committed to the improvement of the services for ethnic minorities with mental and/or addictive disorders. This effort is intended to create a nucleus of ethnic minority social workers trained to teach, administer, conduct services research, and provide direct mental health/substance abuse services to ethnic minority groups. They will also provide leadership and consultation and administrative expertise to public, private and non-profit primary care provider organizations and educational institutions. The knowledge and expertise of these fellows will strengthen training programs providing services to ethnic minority mental health and substance abuse consumers. Upon completion of their training, the fellows will be expected to be trained in the latest evidence-based practices in mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention, to collaborate with the national mental health organizations regarding training support, and to enhance interdisciplinary efforts to improve the quality of care and access to mental health and substance abuse services for underserved ethnic minority communities.

[Michael Furlong is available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]

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