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BHWET Program

Behavioral Health Workforce 
Education & Training Program
(BHWET)

The BHWET program offers select Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP students traineeships and $32,500 scholarships to help offset the cost of PMHNP training. The program prepares graduates to expand access to care by strengthening the supply and distribution of a highly trained behavioral health workforce.

BHWET 2027 APPLICATION FORM

  • Application open now for 2027 clinical cohort students!
  • Application deadline: June 15, 2026, before 11:59 PM

Please email questions to Lydia Parra, BHWET Program Coordinator: lparra1@arizona.edu

The University of Arizona Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program aims to increase the supply of skilled licensed behavioral health practitioners, guided by collaborative, team-oriented care. The initiative focuses on cultivating a new generation of comprehensive mental health care teams by immersing DNP PMHNP students and psychology interns in designated training sites, with an emphasis on those serving high-demand, rural, and underserved areas.

LEARN MORE: Expanding Care Where It’s Needed Most: Nursing leads $2.3M grant to train mental health providers for Arizona’s underserved regions

Stipends may be used to defray educational and travel/commuting/housing expenses associated with PMHNP training within rural and underserved communities. Awarded stipends will be divided over three semesters.

Spring 2027

Summer 2027

Fall 2027

$10,833.00

$10,833.00

$10,834.00

 

 

 

Total $32,500.00 for the 2027 year

  • DNP-PMHNP students starting the clinical year in Spring 2027
  • Full-time, degree-seeking students in excellent academic standing
  • Committed to practicing in rural and underserved healthcare settings
  • Must be a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a foreign national holding a visa that permits permanent residence in the US
  • Must be eligible to sit for national certification as a PMHNP upon graduation
  • Must obtain one reference from a College of Nursing faculty member. Forward this link to your faculty member for completion: https://form.jotform.com/261036263650148 

  • A 12-month primary clinical experience at a rural, medically underserved BHWET community partner site in Arizona
  • Complete virtual didactic educational experiences at least twice monthly, including but not limited to SBIRT training, grand rounds, case studies, trauma-informed care modules, telehealth modules, enhanced Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), and interdisciplinary discussions
  • Conference attendance:
    • Arizona Rural Health Professionals Conference (virtual) in April 2027. (1 ½ days)
    • Arizona Rural Health Conference – First week of June 2027 in Flagstaff. Expenses covered (2 days)
    • Annual one-day virtual BHWET conference TBD
  • Apply for your National Provider Identifier (NPI) by the start of the spring semester on January 14th, 2027
  • Attend monthly advising sessions with an assigned faculty mentor
  • Complete your DNP project focused on a quality improvement issue at your BHWET site

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program

Agency
Health Resources and Services Administration

Grant Number
M01HP31349

Project Dates
Wednesday, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029

Researcher

Role: PI

BHWET Student

Photo of Jeff Amoako

My name is Jeff Amoako, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at the University of Arizona and a proud BHWET scholar. I have experience in behavioral health settings serving diverse patient populations, where I have developed strong clinical skills in assessment, therapeutic communication, and patient-centered care. My passion is improving access to mental health services through early identification, integrated care, and evidence-based treatment. I am particularly interested in working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Through my training, I aim to provide compassionate, holistic care, advocate for underserved populations, and contribute to advancing mental health care delivery.

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a 4-year award totaling $2.3 M, with 0% of funding from nongovernmental sources. The contents of this page are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, visit HRSA.gov.