THE MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT AAMFT

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1 THE MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT AAMFT [ HISTORY, STRUCTURE & SIGNIFICANCE MUDITA RASTOGI, PHD [ As the program director for the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, it is my privilege to share with you the work we do, and how it meets the interests and needs of students in doctoral MFT programs, while addressing broader issues of access to substance abuse and mental health services for all people in the United States. We believe that the MFP is both central and critical to changes affecting the field of MFT and mental health, and the already existing pressing needs of the US population. We are seeking Fellows who care deeply about providing better and more accessible, culturally competent, substance abuse and mental health services to minorities. DR. RASTOGI IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF AAMFT S MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 32 FAMILY THERAPY MAGAZINE

2 GoOnline MISSION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The AAMFT MFP s objectives are to: expand the delivery of culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to underserved minority populations; and increase the number of doctoral level culturally competent marriage and family therapists. If you are an MFT doctoral student who is committed to serving ethnic minority and other underserved populations, including LGBTQ clients, rural communities, economically underprivileged groups, new immigrants, and military families, then MFP is a Fellowship opportunity designed for you. Applicants, Fellows and alum have worked in the areas of substance abuse and mental health via producing scholarship, providing direct services, teaching and engaging in community work. The MFP supports these efforts by providing financial support, training, and mentoring to all Fellows selected for the program each year. There is an expressed need for more talented, culturally competent doctoral-level researchers, practitioners, and teachers dedicated to assisting underserved minorities. THE NEED Data distributed by the Surgeon General of the United States show that diverse racial and ethnic communities are underserved in the arena of mental health (SAMHSA, 2012). Some of the barriers that keep underserved populations from accessing and receiving mental health services are: lack of means, mistrust of treatments and providers, differences in the cultural interpretation of illness, having diverse needs, such as language, discrimination by individuals and institutions. Also, a greater percentage of ethnic minorities are currently uninsured, compared with the general population (Chu et al., 2012). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will enable 32 million more Americans to be covered by health insurance on January 1, SAMHSA estimates that between 20 to 30 percent of these people (approximately 6 to10 million) will have a mental or substance use disorder (SAMHSA, June 2, 2013). Most of these newly insured people who would not have qualified for services previously due to lack of insurance or because of pre-existing conditions will now be able to seek treatment. This phenomenal bump in numbers of potential clients will look to mental health providers such as MFTs for effective and culturally sensitive services (Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). It is imperative that we train more MFTs to serve the needs of this growing group of clients seeking treatment. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

3 MFP Fellows from 2007 to July 31, 2013: men women HISTORY OF MFP AAMFT s MFP is funded by the federal agency SAMHSA, which stands for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. AAMFT is one of only six organizations in the country that receive this grant. SAMHSA s goals include creating better mental health and substance abuse treatment services for all. More details on SAMHSA s eight strategic initiatives is available on SAMHSA s website at samhsa.gov. The MFP has been in existence at AAMFT since 2007 with Dr. Ken Hardy serving as its first program director. Over the years, the MFP has expanded and evolved, resulting in a total of 73 students having received the Fellowship, with several of them having been a Fellow for multiple years. In addition, the MFP now offers two types of Fellowships: The Doctoral Fellowship (DF) is open to students in the first three years of their doctoral program. The Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) is geared towards students who are actively working on their dissertation. Details on these categories can be found at STRUCTURE The Fellowship is a one-year professional training appointment into a community of other students and professionals who share similar interests and commitment. The MFP provides stipends, cutting edge training in areas of substance abuse, cultural competence and clinical skills, facilitates leadership development and provides opportunities for mentoring and networking. The application process is quite straightforward and can be completed electronically. Detailed information is provided at Click on Application Information. Ethnic/Racial Distribution of MFP Fellows from 2007 to July 31, Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Multi-ethnic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Other White/Caucasian American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian/Asian American research, teaching at universities, and working in agencies or practice settings. Fellows and alum have worked on projects involving Native populations and substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention in the Latino population, best practices in providing treatment to Black clients, prevention of distress in same sex couples, and examining physical and mental health issues in military families, to name a few. We invite you to learn more by visiting org/mfp. We are seeking Fellows who care deeply about providing better and more accessible, culturally competent, substance abuse and mental health services to minorities. You can also contact the Minority Fellowship Program staff at mfp@aamft.org. In addition, the MFP now offers two types of Fellowships: The Doctoral Fellowship (DF) is open to students in the first three years of their doctoral program. The Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) is geared towards students who are actively working on their dissertation. Details on these categories can be found at References Chu, R., Wong, D., Robinson, W., & Finegold, K. (2012). The affordable care act and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Retrieved from Islanders/rb.shtm. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (2012). Report shows affordable care act has expanded insurance coverage among young adults of all races and ethnicities. Retrieved from hhs.gov/health/reports/2012/youngadultsbygroup/ib.shtml. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Strategic initiative #5: Health reform. Retrieved from ly/1bpajhr. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2012). Understanding health reform: Why is the affordable care act important for people with health disparities? Retrieved from samhsa.gov/healthreform/docs/consumertipsheet_disparities.pdf. Currently we have 21 Fellows from universities across the United States. Fellows shared goals include serving diverse communities, producing scholarship related to substance abuse and mental health, and a commitment to social justice. MFP alumni are doing federally funded 34 FAMILY THERAPY MAGAZINE

4 [ THE MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT AAMFT ] We are 21 Fellows from universities across the United States. MFP alumni are doing federally funded research, teaching at universities, and working in agencies or practice settings. Our goals include serving diverse communities, producing scholarship related to substance abuse and mental health, and a commitment to social justice. 36 FAMILY THERAPY MAGAZINE

5 We work with Native populations and substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention in the Latino population, and best practices in providing treatment to Black clients. We help prevent distress in same sex couples, and examine physical and mental health issues in military families, and much more! SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER