Hansen Foundation, High Plains Mental Health Center partner for scholarship program

HPMHC

She saw the needs and wanted to better serve her community. But without financial assistance, Meriah Escarcega said she would not have been able to go back to school or further her career as an outpatient therapist.

Thanks to a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kan., Meriah and three other High Plains Mental Health Center staff members were able to pursue advanced coursework at Fort Hays State University. The opportunity comes at a critical time when more people are seeking behavioral health treatment, but a national workforce shortage makes it difficult for rural agencies to hire and retain qualified mental health professionals.

Meriah completed a Master’s of Social Work training program at FHSU in May, and is expected to begin work as a bilingual outpatient therapist at High Plains Mental Health Center later this summer.

“I think this program is an amazing opportunity and is likely to play a major role as to why HPMHC employees are going to decide to further their education due to the financial stress it may bring on,” Escarcega said. “I am so thankful to have received this option and I hope it continues to be offered to other employees to benefit HPMHC and our clients.”

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, granted a two-year scholarship fund to HPMHC for the specific purpose of growing the region’s behavioral health workforce through advanced education at FHSU. This grant program expired in May 2023.

A total of four staff members received assistance from the scholarship program, and all will join HPMHC workforce as clinical therapists.

Two of the new therapists (Escarcega and Carmen Morales-Hernandez) are bilingual, making Spanish-speaking therapy services available at HPMHC for the first time. Morales-Hernandez graduated with her MSW in May 2022 and is currently accepting new clients.

Both are passionate about reducing stigma and improving access to Spanish-speaking and culturally competent mental health services for the region’s growing Hispanic/Latino communities. Bilingual therapy services are now available on-site in Hays, or via telehealth to any residents within the 20 counties served by High Plains Mental Health Center. A sliding fee scale is available, and clients are not refused services based on inability to pay.

“I like making a difference in people’s lives and building that sense of hope for change,” Morales-Hernandez said. “It’s a rewarding feeling when you know that the work you do with clients is making a difference in their lives.”

Recruiting professionals from other areas has always been difficult for rural agencies, and High Plains long has recognized the importance of a “grow your own” approach to workforce, said Walt Hill, executive director. Many staff members begin their careers with entry-level service positions requiring a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree, then decide they want to advance their careers in mental health services.

Investing in established local professionals is a win-win, because those with ties to the area are usually more likely to stay in northwest Kansas long term, Hill said. The Hansen grant program was available only to students pursuing advanced coursework at FHSU, also benefitting the region’s only four-year university.

“We are so thankful for the Hansen Foundation’s support in helping us expand workforce to address the increasing need for mental health services,” Hill said. “We work very hard to support our staff in advancing their career goals, and are pleased we were able to invest in four bright young professionals who are committed to working and living in northwest Kansas.”

A third Hansen scholar, Mandy Stock, is expected to begin work as an outpatient therapist at the Phillipsburg Branch Office later this summer.

Stock, Escarcega and Morales-Hernandez all had extensive experience working as Recovery Specialists (case managers) and serving clients in northwest Kansas. A fourth staff member has begun the clinical psychology program at FHSU and is expected to graduate in 2024. The additional workforce comes at a critical time, as mental health service needs have been increasing locally and nationally.

High Plains Mental Health Center in 2022 served a record high of 7,149 individual clients. Evidence suggests that 1 in 5 U.S. adults and 1 in 6 youth will experience a mental illness in any given year. Additionally, the World Health Organization reported the Covid-19 pandemic significantly increased the prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance use worldwide.

It’s also likely that people are feeling more comfortable reaching out for mental health services, as stigma begins to lessen and more people are willing to think about and talk about their mental health, Hill said.

“Mental health care is healthcare, and it’s important to reach out if you’re struggling. There is help available wherever you are, and there is hope,” Hill said. “We are proud to serve Northwest Kansas and appreciate the support of our mission to expand access to quality healthcare.”

High Plains Mental Health Center is a licensed Community Mental Health Center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic dedicated to the aggressive pursuit of providing a comprehensive mental health program to the residents of Northwest Kansas. Embodied in this pursuit are fundamental principles of establishing quality services as close to home as possible, at an affordable fee, and delivered in the least disruptive manner available. Such services will offer a continuum of care so that treatment can be individualized, and our staff can respond quickly and compassionately to those reaching out to us. We’re Here for You!

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