Lifelong Learning Fund

The BHECN Lifelong Learning Fund (LLF) provides support for three categories of professional development:

• Student development and training
• Behavioral health practitioner (provisionally or fully licensed) professional development opportunities
• Statewide training events

Applications for the Lifelong Learning Fund will be accepted three times a year.

Student Development and Training Opportunities (and associated budget caps):

• Conference (e.g., meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium) - $2,000
• Training, Workshop, and/or Certification (e.g., coordinated program, course, or curriculum aimed to improve individual performance) - $1,500
• Test preparation materials (e.g., licensure exam or board certification materials) - $250
• Educational project - $1,500

Behavioral Health Practitioner (provisionally or fully licensed) Development Opportunities (and associated budget caps):

• Conference (e.g., meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium) - $2,000
• Training (e.g., coordinated program, course, or curriculum aimed to improve individual performance) - $1,500

Statewide Training Events (and associated budget caps):

• Individual licensed practitioners or behavioral health organizations are eligible to propose a continuing education training event focused on enhancing clinical delivery and/or increasing access to care. The proposed event must be open to statewide participation and can take place in person or virtually. The training must be rooted in a strong evidence base, and applicants must provide a compelling justification for how this training will advance the clinical skill set of attendees. - $2,500
• Applications that meet the following criteria will receive increased priority:
  • Proof of cost-sharing and co-sponsorship with other organizations.
  • Events that have a strong evidence base and offer continuing education opportunities.
  • Targeted marketing to interdisciplinary and interprofessional behavioral health providers.
  • Events that have statewide reach and appeal, or events located in rural and under-resourced communities.

Clinical Training Priority Areas

Through the Lifelong Learning Fund, BHECN strives to create opportunities for individuals to obtain high-quality training and continuing education rooted in a strong evidence base.

Priority will be given to applicants serving rural and under-resourced communities, and applicants requesting training in modalities that currently fulfill areas of greatest clinical need within Nebraska. This year, the following psychotherapy trainings will be prioritized for funding:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Biofeedback
• Prolonged exposure for PTSD
• Behavioral parent training

Beyond clinical trainings, requests for trainings that enhance knowledge related to behavioral health business practices will also be considered.

If your proposed training is not listed as a priority area, you will be given the opportunity to submit additional justification (e.g., annotated bibliography, literature review of current evidence base).

Applicants applying for funding to pursue training in a psychotherapy modality and/or to enhance their clinical skills are encouraged to consult the following resources:

• Adult: https://div12.org/treatments/
• Child/Adolescent: https://effectivechildtherapy.org/therapies/
• Ravitz, P., Flores Jr, L. E., Novick, D., Watson, P., & Swartz, H. A. (2024). Psychotherapies at a Glance: Consensus guideline–recommended psychotherapies for adults with psychiatric disorders. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 77(2), 79-87.

Requirements and Eligibility

We encourage all behavioral health practitioners (provisionally and fully licensed providers) and trainees (undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students) currently residing in Nebraska, who have not received funding from the BHECN Lifelong Learning Fund in the past five years to apply. Priority will be given to applicants serving rural and under-resourced communities, and applicants requesting training in modalities with a strong evidence base. Applications should focus on a single request for a specified event or activity (e.g., attending one conference, participating in one training). Applications requesting funding for more than one activity will not be considered.

Application Details  

Applications will only be accepted through the official application platform during the timeframes indicated on the platform’s homepage. Applications submitted before or after the indicated timeframes will not be considered.

When to Apply

Applications for this program are accepted three times a year. The rounds are as follows:

• The Oct. 1-15 round accepts applications for projects/trainings/conferences occurring between Oct. 31*** and Feb. 28.
• The Feb. 1-15 round accepts applications for projects/trainings/conferences occurring between Feb. 28*** and July 31.
• The July 1-15 round accepts applications for projects/trainings/conferences occurring between July 31*** and Oct. 31.

Award notifications will be made within one month of the closing date of each round.

***If you are applying for an event that takes place on or around this date, you may not receive a decision about your application prior to the event taking place. If awarded funding, you will be able to apply for reimbursement for activities and related expenses that align with state and federal guidelines. See the FAQ section below for information about the types of eligible expenses and the reimbursement process.

Apply here.