Expanding Care Where It’s Needed Most: Nursing leads $2.3M grant to train mental health providers for Arizona’s underserved regions
The College of Nursing is proud to announce its leadership role in securing a continuation of a $2.3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This grant aims to address Arizona’s behavioral health workforce shortage and expand access to integrated mental health care across the state. The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant supports a four-year effort to prepare Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) and clinical psychologist interns to serve rural and underserved communities facing mental health challenges and trauma-related disorders.
At the core of this transformative program is Sara Edmund, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, interim coordinator of the PMHNP program and associate clinical professor, who authored the grant and serves as the project director. A double alumna of the College of Nursing and a longtime faculty member, Edmund is leading this interdisciplinary initiative that unites key leaders from across the university. Kyle Suhr, PhD, associate clinical professor, Psychiatry, and Jordan Karp, MD, chair of Psychiatry, both from the College of Medicine, along with Lindsay Bouchard, DNP, PMHNP-BC, DNP program director and interim chair, associate clinical professor at the College of Nursing, join Edmund.
“This achievement reflects the coming together of strong leadership, shared mission, and strategic collaboration across disciplines, strengthening the university as a statewide leader in rural health," said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing. “Through interprofessional, team-based training, the program will not only tackle urgent workforce shortages but also enhance behavioral health equity in some of Arizona’s most medically underserved communities.”
The BHWET grant will support four cohorts of 10 students and interns from July 2025 to June 2029, creating new clinical and academic pathways for both PMHNP DNP students and postdoctoral psychology interns. Focusing on telehealth, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary collaboration, trainees will be placed in rural or underserved areas throughout Arizona. Additionally, trainees will participate in joint didactic exercises such as collaborative mock patient visits and case reviews. The College of Nursing’s clinical placement coordinators will play a vital role in ensuring trainees are integrated into settings where their contributions are most needed.
“This program equips students and interns with the skills to thrive in integrated, team-based behavioral health care settings,” said Bouchard. “We are preparing our graduates to meet the urgent needs of communities across Arizona with confidence, compassion, and clinical excellence.”
Arizona is experiencing a severe shortage of behavioral health professionals, especially in rural and underserved communities. The state ranks among the lowest in the nation for mental health access, with significant unmet needs among children, adolescents, and adults who are dealing with serious mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and limited access to trauma-informed care.
Edmund has a long history with the College of Nursing. She was the 19th recipient of the DNP degree in May 2012 in the DNP Family Practice (FNP) program. She returned in 2016 to pursue her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification and has worked with the college in some capacity since 2017. Edmund emphasizes the program’s far-reaching impact, not just for trainees and patients, but also for the college itself. “This grant allows the college to expand our reach across the state, strengthen collaborations with our partners in the College of Medicine, and offer mentorship to faculty who may be new to federal funding,” she said. “It also provides trainees with a deeper, more meaningful educational experience that reflects the complexity of real-world mental health care in underserved communities.”
Edmund views this program as a vital step forward for Arizona’s mental health field. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to prepare future leaders who are not only clinically excellent but also committed to enhancing access to community-based care in rural and underserved areas.”
The College of Nursing remains committed to improving behavioral health care and workforce development throughout Arizona. With strong leadership, collaborative innovation, and a shared vision for a healthier future, this grant further enhances the college’s success in securing federal funding. It marks a significant step forward, benefiting the university, college, students, and the communities they serve.