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UNO Grace Abbott Training and Supervision Academy Enhances Nebraska Behavioral Health Workforce with BHECN-ARPA Grant

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In a significant move to bolster Nebraska's behavioral health workforce, the University of Nebraska Omaha's (UNO) Grace Abbott Training and Supervision Academy has leveraged opportunities provided by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The school has successfully implemented Project REST (Reflect and Explore in Supervision Training) to support clinicians overseeing provisionally licensed behavioral health providers across the state. This transformative initiative has been made possible through a generous grant of $150,000, further strengthening the academy's commitment to enhancing the quality of behavioral health services in Nebraska.

Principal Investigator Dr. Susan Reay, EdD, LICSW, highlighted the project's goals and impact. Funded under the Behavioral Health Workforce COVID-19 Projects category, Project REST is a collaborative effort between BHECN and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center of Children, Families, and the Law. It focuses on providing vital support to supervisors through training in the Reflective Practice Supervision model, proven to mitigate burnout, stress, and trauma induced by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Reay emphasized the practical and evidence-based nature of Reflective Practice Supervision, stating, "The BHECN-ARPA grant provided a unique opportunity to integrate this valuable approach that might not have been possible otherwise."

The project involves a comprehensive training program for supervisors, including three days of training and individual mentoring sessions over eight months. Dr. Reay explained, "The overarching objective is to create a network of skilled supervisors statewide, equipped with the necessary support and education to nurture the next generation of clinicians."

The overarching objective is to create a network of skilled supervisors statewide, equipped with the necessary support and education to nurture the next generation of clinicians."

 Susan Reay, Ed.D., LICSW, Director, Grace Abbott School of Social Work

One of the distinctive features of Project REST is its indirect impact on supervisees, as supervisors are educated in healthy methods of managing secondary stress and trauma associated with their work. Moreover, supervisor participants receive stipends for their involvement.

When asked about the motivation behind pursuing this project, Dr. Reay stated, "The desire to offer Reflective Practice Supervision had long existed, but capacity constraints hindered its implementation."

Dr. Reay finds connecting practitioners across the state particularly rewarding. She mentioned, "The project facilitates discussions on best practices, mutual support, and the exchange of tools among practitioners. The collaborative effort across the UNO, UNMC, and UNL campuses adds another layer of richness to the grant."

Acknowledging challenges of coordinating participants across different time zones and work hours, Dr. Reay emphasized, "People make time for the things that are important to them, and Project REST is proving to be a valuable opportunity in people’s lives."

Reflecting on the learnings from the project, Dr. Reay highlighted, "We need more spaces for professional collaboration. It is apparent that we need something in place when the grant ends so the support can continue."

Project REST stands out as one of the impactful initiatives supported by BHECN, contributing significantly to the development of Nebraska's behavioral health workforce. Dr. Reay expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate, recognizing the project's role in advancing the goals of behavioral health workforce development.