The AAMFT Blog

Opportunity to Present at the Minority Fellowship Program Training Institute

The Minority Fellowship Program would like to invite the submission of workshop/presentation proposal materials for consideration at its upcoming 2019 Training Institute (TI) (May 15-19, 2019). 

The Minority Fellowship Program Training Institutes feature interactive seminars and advanced workshops with distinguished scholars and clinicians in the behavioral health field of marriage and family therapy. MFP Fellows gain an opportunity to learn from, and interact with, presenters in the areas of cultural sensitive interventions with ethnic minority populations, as well as, the integration of advanced quantitative research modalities. The Minority Fellowship Program is a national workforce development program that seeks to- through collaboration with federal agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and leading behavioral health professional associations like AAMFT- increase the number of culturally competent behavioral health practitioners who provide substance abuse and other mental health services to underserved minority populations. 

Call for Presenters:
If you or someone you know is interested in presenting at the upcoming 2019 TI you are invited to submit a Presenter Information Form. Selected MFP Presenters will have an opportunity to help shape future cohorts of behavioral health services leaders and practitioners, and contribute to the advancement of the marriage and family therapy and wider behavioral health professions.

Apply Here

MFP Recognizes Mentors of the Year: Ryan Seedall and Ashley Landers

The Minority Fellowship Program is pleased to present the Mentor of the Year award to Dr. Ryan Seedall and Dr. Ashley Landers. 

Dr. Ryan B. Seedall is an Assistant Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program within the department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development (FCHD) at Utah State University (USU). Although the majority of the courses he teaches are at graduate level, he also teaches hybrid and online courses about diverse families. His research broadly focuses on understanding the process of change, (a) within couple relationships; and (b) within therapy. In addition, he has been a practicing MFT for the past 13 years. Outside of work he enjoys sports, reading, and spending time with his wife, Ruth, and their four children. The AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program is grateful to Dr. Seedall for his time and investment in the program and the fellows.

 

Dr. Ashley Landers is an Assistant Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the Northern Virginia Center at Virginia Tech. Dr. Landers is an AAMFT Clinic Fellow and Approved Supervisor as well as a MFP Alumni. She has extensive experience providing individual, group, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Her specialized training areas include Structural Family Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Ashley’s clinical and research interests converge around issues of complex trauma and families in child welfare. She views child welfare as a family systems level issue – recognizing that adverse experiences in childhood including maltreatment and family dysfunction are often associated with subsequent mental illness and substance abuse. Dr. Landers’ program of research focuses on families in child welfare, more specifically marginalized underserved minority families such as First Nations/American Indian families involved with the child welfare system. The AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program is grateful to Dr. Landers for her time and investment in the program and the fellows.

Applications Open for 2019-20 Minority Fellowship Program

Applications for the 2019-20 Minority Fellowship Program year are currently open and will close on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

Update: The deadline has been extended to February 15.

The AAMFT Research and Education Foundation's Minority Fellowship Program offers three Fellowships. The MFP is one of the longest running behavioral health workforce development grants funded by the federal government – funding provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These Fellowships are:

1. Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF)-For doctoral students at the dissertation stage of their curriculum;
2. Doctoral Fellowship (DF)-For doctoral students still in the process of completing pre-dissertation core curriculum;
3. Minority Fellowship Program- Youth (MFP-Y)-For masters students interested in service provision to the nation’s youth.

Find more information here.

Join MFP staff for an informational webinar on applying for the Fellowship. Choose a time that works for you (all webinars are from 11 am - 12 pm Eastern):

• Application Webinar on Thursday, December 13, 2018, 11am-12pm ET. Click here to join the webinar! 
• Application Webinar on Thursday, January 10, 2019, 11am-12pm ET. Click here to join the webinar! 
• Application Webinar on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 11am-12pm ET.Click here to join the webinar! 

• Thursday February 7, 2019 11:30am-12:30pm EST. Click here to join the webinar

Email the Minority Fellowship Program staff with any questions or concerns at mfp@aamft.org.

Support the Minority Fellowship Program

Calling all Minority Fellowship Program Alumni and leaders in the Marriage and Family Therapy field! We have opportunities for you to contribute to the efforts of the MFP in shaping the marriage and family therapy workforce and enhancing the field of mental health. You may apply to any of these positions listed below here!

Positions include:

Mentor Positions:

• MFP Mentors provide academic, professional and career development guidance to current AAMFT MFP Fellows.

• MFP Mentors are marriage and family therapists or other behavioral health professional volunteers.

Ad-Hoc Review Positions:

• Ad-Hoc reviewers serve as initial reviewers on eligible applications for the Doctoral (MFP-DF/DCF) and Masters (NITT-MFP-Y) Fellowships offered by the MFP.

Advisory Committee Positions:

• Professional Member positions and Public Member positions will provide programmatic and professional guidance aid in the growth and development of the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program.
• Attend all MFP Advisory Committee (AC) meetings. There are one to two Advisory Committee Meetings annually in the DC Metro area. 
• Advisory Committee members serve as reviewers and assist in the determination of Fellows.
• These positions serve a two to three-year term. 

Volunteering for the MFP is an amazing opportunity to further the mission of expanding culturally competent mental health services to underserved populations, contribute to the growth and development of the behavioral health workforce, and gain access to members with similar interests and professional goals.

To review the volunteer position, you wish to apply for, please visit the MFP Volunteer Application Information Page.

Volunteer Applications are due Friday July 27, 2018

Minority Fellowship Program Volunteers Needed

The AAMFT Research & Education Foundation is excited to announce that the Minority Fellowship Program Volunteer Applications for the 2018-19 year are now open! The MFP is funded by grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), focused on training of doctoral and master’s level practitioners and researchers in culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services, treatment, and prevention. The MFP has supported the training of over 1,700 Fellows from various mental health disciplines including marriage and family therapy.

There are many ways that you can contribute to the efforts of the MFP in shaping the marriage and family therapy workforce and enhancing the field of mental health.

Positions include:

Advisory Committee Member (Professional and Public Member)

MFP Mentors

Ad-hoc members/ Initial Reviewers

Volunteering for the MFP is an amazing opportunity to further the mission of expanding culturally competent mental health services to underserved populations, contribute to the growth and development of the behavioral health workforce, and gain access to members with similar interests and professional goals.

Review the volunteer position you wish to apply for on the MFP Volunteer Application Information Page.

 

To learn more about this opportunity please attend one of our free volunteer webinars:

Thursday March 29, 2018, 2:30 PM -3:30PM ET Click here to Join

Thursday April 19, 2018, 2:30PM -3:30PM ET Click here to join  

Volunteer Applications are due Friday June 29, 2018

Minority Fellowship Applications for 2018-2019

MFP Applications for the 2018-19 year will open Friday, December 1, 2017 and close Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

The AAMFT Research and Education Foundation's Minority Fellowship Program offers three Fellowships. The MFP is one of the longest running behavioral health workforce development grants funded by the federal government – funding provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These Fellowships are:

1. Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF)-For doctoral students at the dissertation stage of their curriculum;
2. Doctoral Fellowship (DF)-For doctoral students still in the process of completing pre-dissertation core curriculum;
3. Now Is The Time: Minority Fellowship Program- Youth (NITT-MFP-Y)-For masters students interested in service provision to the nation’s youth.

Find more information here.

Join MFP staff for an informational webinar on applying for a Fellowship. Choose a time that works for you (all webinars are from 11 am - 12 pm eastern):

Thursday, December, 14, 2017. Click here to join 

Thursday, January 11, 2018. Click here to join 

Thursday, January 25, 2018  Click here to join

Email the Minority Fellowship Program staff with any questions or concerns at mfp@aamft.org.

MFP Mentor of the Year: Dr. Phillip Greenwood

The Minority Fellowship Program is pleased to present the first official Mentor of the Year award to Dr. Phillip Greenwood. Dr. Greenwood's experience as an MFT spans a 26-year career as a family therapist on the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry acute care unit at Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, VA. He retired in 2013. His passion for marriage and family therapy led him to serve as an AAMFT Minority Fellowship Mentor during the 2016-2017 term, as he was eager to help students and young professionals learn and grow in the profession. 

Dr. Greenwood joined AAMFT as a student member in 1978. As a Clinical Fellow, he served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (VAMFT) from 1993 to 2017. After being in the field for many years, he decided to use his expertise and wealth of knowledge to serve as a mentor for the MFP. The Minority Fellowship Program is grateful for Dr. Greenwood's  time and investment in the program and the fellows. The MFP Fellows and staff have unanimously agreed that Dr. Greenwood’s approach to mentorship has created a lasting impact. Dr. Greenwood is excited to continue serving as a mentor.

Minority Fellowship Program Training Institute and Capitol Hill Visits

The 2017 Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Training Institute  is a wrap! The Institute consisted of eight presenters from all areas of the Marriage and Family Therapy field, including the previous MFP Director Mudita Rastogi. The presentations consisted of a variety of subjects such as immigration, LGBTQ issues, being in the MFT field, and statistical training. The presentations allowed Fellows to look into research being conducted by presenters, while learning how to improve their own research through conversations and through a series of question and answer segments.               

The Capitol Hill visit was a significant one, and the  highlight of the Institute. The Fellows had an opportunity to advocate to Representatives and Senators on behalf of the mental health field. The Fellows did an excellent job in speaking with Representatives, legislative assistants, and Senators about the importance of training mental health practitioners in programs and fellowships such as the Minority Fellowship Program. The Fellows spoke about a wide variety of issues, including substance abuse (specifically opiod abuse in this country), cultural issues, and, trauma. The Fellows explained the significance of these issues and how continued financial and academic support would assist the government’s initiative in resolving these issues. The legislative assistants, Senators, and Representatives were impressed by the Fellows’ knowledge and passion for the mental health field. The visit to Capitol Hill was shared with followers of AAMFT's Facebook and Twitter page through photos of each visit, which you can see here or by scrolling through this post. 

The Institute concluded with Fellow presentations. The Fellows did an extraordinary job presenting their research with passion and vast knowledge of their individual projects. In addition to all of the trainings and presentations, the Fellows had a terrific time catching up with one another, exploring Washington DC, and networking with presenters.  

The MFP Staff is looking forward to the 2018 Training Institute and making future Institutes an even better experience for the MFP Fellows!

Pictured: Daniel Cooper, Sarah Crabtree, Eugene Hall, Damir Utrzan, and legislative assistant for Rep. Al Franken

 

Pictured: Karina Bocanegra, Layla Scott, Natali Gonzalez, & Cayla Minaiy

 

 

Pictured: MFP staff Grace Kabemba, Fellow Jennifer Torres, and legislative assistant Grant of Sen. Kamala Harris

 

Pictured: Ebony Dike, Joslyn Armstrong, Dorcas Matowe, and Nelson Perez with staffer from office of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

 

Pictured: Catherine Van Fossen, Lauren Oseland, Chelsea Spencer, Zenova Williams & Roger Smith at the office of Se. Pat Roberts

 

SAMHSA Recruiting LMFT Peer Reviewers

SAMHSA is currently recruiting LMFTs and other behavioral health providers to serve as SAMHSA Peer Reviewers. LMFTs interested in serving as peer reviewers are encouraged to send a resume and completed Review Contact Information form to SAMHSA at Reviewer@samhsa.hhs.gov.   

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. SAMHSA’s Office of Financial Resources (OFR), Division of Grant Review (DGR) is responsible for coordinating the peer review process for non-formula discretionary grant applications.

Processes include: Review of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA); Peer Reviewer Recruitment; Application Screening; Collaborative Review and Discrepancy Calls. Peer reviewers are an invaluable and critical component of the non-formula discretionary grant review process. The primary role of the SAMHSA Peer Reviewer is to conduct an expert, equitable and objective assessment of each application in relation to the FOA evaluation criteria as well as provide accurate feedback to SAMHSA and applicants. In order to ensure a fair and objective review, the DGR selects reviewers based on their knowledge, skills and expertise related to the grant program under review. In addition, the DGR assembles peer groups that reflect diversity based on geography, gender, racial/ethnic and sexual and gender minority status.   

To ensure that there is a sufficient number of qualified individuals to review for each FOA, the DGR is currently recruiting licensed behavioral health experts to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate applications in response to the requirements of the FOAs. If you are interested in learning more about the SAMHSA peer review process or if you would like to sign up to become a SAMHSA Peer Reviewer, please send a copy of your resume/CV and a completed Reviewer Contact Information (RCI) form to Reviewer@samhsa.hhs.gov.

Minority Fellowship Program Applications are Open

The AAMFT Research and Education Foundation's Minority Fellowship Program offers three Fellowships. The MFP is one of the longest running behavioral health workforce development grants funded by the federal government – funding provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These Fellowships are:

1. Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF)-For doctoral students at the dissertation stage of their curriculum;
2. Doctoral Fellowship (DF)-For doctoral students still in the process of completing pre dissertation core curriculum;
3. Now Is The Time: Minority Fellowship Program- Youth (NITT-MFP-Y)-For masters students interested in service provision to the nation’s youth.

Find more information here.

Join MFP staff for an informational webinar on applying for a Fellowship. Choose a time that works for you (all webinars are from 11 am - 12 pm eastern):

Wednesday, December, 14, 2016. Click here to join 

Monday, January, 9, 2017. Click here to join 

Tuesday, January, 24, 2017  Click here to join