Briefing Highlights Importance of Minority Fellowship Program

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Government the National Board for Certified Counselors; and the American Psychological Association Services Inc. , the American Psychological Association's advocacy arm, which hosted the event. Reid, who is the vice president and chief operating officer at CNS Healthcare, participated in the fellowship program from 1982 to 1984. The program celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Reid said that the program "was created to improve behavioral health outcomes for diverse populations and increase not only the number of racially and ethnically diverse psychiatrists, but also to improve the diversity of the overall behavioral health workforce. "From left: Kylie Dotson-Blake, Ph. D. , N. C. C. , L. C. M. H. C. , Sherry Molock, Ph. D. , Stefanie Reeves, C. A. E. , Liz Stokes, Ph. D. , J. D. , R. N. , and Michele Reid, M. D. , spoke at a congressional briefing on the Minority Fellowship Program celebrating the program's 50th anniversary last year. Katie O'ConnorReid shared that when she was a fellow, the program had a payback service requirement, which she fulfilled by working at a community health clinic in Michigan. That clinic later merged with CNS Healthcare, which is a certified community behavioral health clinic, certified through SAMHSA. "I am now the vice president and chief operating officer at the very same location where I did my repayment for my fellowship stipend, " she said. "The program has really brought me full circle. "Her fellow speakers at the briefing agreed that Reid's story is an example of the importance of the leadership development aspect of the Minority Fellowship Program. It allows fellows to have a broader impact on their organizations and their communities from leadership roles, they explained. Reid noted that the program has given her lifetime access to a network of psychiatrists across the country who have also been fellows and mutually support each other. "They help with simple things, " she said. "The first time I got a contract, I had somebody to talk to and discuss how much I should ask to be paid or what should be included in my contract. "Further, the program also emphasizes the importance of treating patients from all backgrounds, Reid said. "It's hugely important to have psychiatrists and other professionals who look like you provide you with care, but it's also important that the psychiatric workforce is equipped to meet the needs of all patients from all walks of life, " she said. Michele Reid, M. D. , spoke at a congressional briefing during which APA and other health organizations urged Congress to increase funding for the Minority Fellowship Program for the upcoming fiscal year. Katie O'ConnorWhile the speakers at the briefing urged Congress to increase the program's funding for the next fiscal year, they also agreed that even 25 million is not enough because the need for mental health professionals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, is huge. Molock said that she is asked for referrals to mental health professionals every week, but she often doesn't have names to give. "It breaks my heart, " she said. "I don't like to make referrals if I don't know that someone is taking clients, because that just creates more red tape and another runaround. Also, people are usually seeking help when they're in crisis, and they don't have the patience or mental energy to go to three or four different providers or clinics to ask if they're taking clients. "Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif. ) emphasized the importance of making investments in the Minority Fellowship Program. "Communities of color are disproportionately affected by mental health disparities, and yet the workforce tasked to address these disparities does not accurately reflect the populations they serve, " she said. "Despite the strides we've made, there's still a lot of work to do, " Barragán continued. "The demand for culturally competent health services is growing. " ■ResourceInformation on the APA/APAF Minority Fellowship Program under SAMHSA ISSUES NewArchived