In response to Vermont’s growing mental health crisis and a critical shortage of trained professionals—especially in rural communities—the University of Vermont (UVM) has received a $1.2 million federal grant to expand and enhance its clinical psychology doctoral training program.
Awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the grant—titled VT HEALS—will support UVM’s nationally accredited clinical psychology Ph.D. program over the next three years. The funding will bolster training in integrated care, substance use treatment, and trauma-informed approaches, equipping future psychologists to meet the state’s most urgent mental health needs.
The initiative is led by Matthew Price, Ph.D., the George W. Albee Green & Gold Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychological Science in UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Our state and local communities are facing an urgent mental health and substance use crisis, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” said Price. “While our leaders continue to call for expanded services, a major barrier remains: We simply don’t have enough trained providers. This grant allows us to grow our impact by preparing the next generation of clinicians to serve the communities that need them most.”
Twelve Ph.D. students (four per year) are expected to participate in placement training, which will be hosted by three local partners: Community Health Centers of Burlington (Burlington, VT), St. Albans Primary Care (St. Albans, VT), and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (Plattsburgh, NY). The grant will also support the creation of a seminar series that will bring in experts on providing substance use treatment, working with rural communities, and administering integrated care. This series will be open to all members—including faculty and students—of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program as well as other mental health training programs.
Pablo Bose, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education in UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences, emphasized the impact of the grant on the community at large. “What Dr. Price and his colleagues are doing is vital,” he said. “This program will not only train clinicians in cutting-edge practices but also deliver critical care to Vermonters. VT HEALS exemplifies UVM’s mission as a land grant university—serving our neighbors, our students, and our state.”
This project follows on the heels of a $3.8 million grant awarded to an interdisciplinary team at UVM by the U.S. Department of Education to support the Catamount Counseling Collaborative for Rural Schools.
UVM’s clinical psychology doctoral program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1973.
As Vermont’s land grant university, UVM is committed to addressing the state’s most pressing challenges through education, research, and community engagement.
The Health Resources and Services Administration is a federal agency focused on improving health care access for underserved populations.
