The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) has selected five programs for 2018-2019 to receive BHECN’s Ambassador Career Engagement Awards. Launched in June 2017, the awards provide funding to the local community groups who offer introductory programming to educate Nebraska students, primarily in rural or underserved communities, about behavioral health professions.
“There is nothing as rewarding as seeing the light go on in a student’s eyes as they discuss their passion to address mental health stigma and consider a career as a social worker, psychiatrist, counselor, etc.,” said Howard Liu, M.D., director of BHECN and interim director of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. “We depend on our partners statewide who know their schools the best to put on local events to mentor these students in behavioral health careers. We’ve been really impressed by the awardees!”
Listed below are the 2018 Ambassador Career Engagement Award recipients. Conference dates have yet to be set.
- Increasing Awareness of Behavioral Health Professions Conference with partners from Western Nebraska Community College and Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority. This project will feature a one-day conference in Scottsbluff to expose interested high school and community college students to behavioral health careers and increase awareness of mental health stigma.
- The Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) Behavioral Health Science Experience Conference includes partners from Nebraska HOSA, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Nebraska Department of Education, and HOSA chapters across Nebraska. The Kearney conference will expose students to careers in behavioral health and provide networking opportunities.
- Behavioral Health Conference coordinated by CenterPointe. The Lincoln conference targets college students from Doane University, Nebraska Wesleyan, Southeast Community College, Union College, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It will feature panels and speakers from various disciplines in the behavioral health field. Students will network with career consultants, counselors and employers about their interests and career goals, discuss current job opportunities and internships.
- Metro Area Teen Health Summit: Securing a Future for Everyone Youth Summit includes partners from Omaha North High STEM Magnet School, North Omaha Community Care Council, and the Center for Reducing Health Disparities in the UNMC College of Public Health. This one-day Omaha summit will promote health, safety and well-being to teens with a special focus on underrepresented and underserved junior high and high school students. Activities will introduce students to various behavioral health topics and behavioral health careers available in the workforce.
- Corn This Way: LGBTQ Youth Leadership Summit is coordinated by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network in Omaha. Corn This Way will show youth and young adults career fields where they can enact change and better the lives of LGBTQ individuals in Nebraska. The all-day summit will take place in Omaha.