William James College Awarded $600,000 Training Grant From Franciscan Children's Community Health Initiative

Program will provide field training to 60 graduate students committed to serving children and teens in marginalized Massachusetts cities and towns.

William James College (WJC) has been selected as a program partner by the Franciscan Children’s Community Health Initiative, part of Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community Health, to expand its professional training and workforce development projects. The Newton-based college will receive $600,000 over three years in support of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI). Each year, CAMHI offers rigorous field training experiences to 20 graduate students from culturally diverse backgrounds who are committed to providing direct care services to children and adolescents in the state’s most underserved communities through collaborations with a consortium of school districts and community-based behavioral health agencies. 

The need for specialized treatment for young people has grown significantly in recent years: Today, 1 in 5 children and teens in the U.S. suffers from a mental or behavioral disorder. The prevalence of mental illness among Massachusetts youth parallels the national figures, with 18% of children and teens diagnosed with one or more behavioral health conditions.

“William James College is committed to training the next generation of clinicians, helping prepare them for meaningful, impactful careers in behavioral health,” said Dr. Gemima St. Louis, Vice President for Workforce Initiatives and Director of CAMHI at WJC. “Critical support from the Franciscan Children’s Community Health Initiative will allow us to provide accessible, culturally responsive services that will benefit young children, teens, and families across the Commonwealth.”

Untreated behavioral health disorders are the leading cause of disability and negative outcomes among children and adolescents in the U.S.; and educators, therapists, social workers, and physicians — including the former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy — have been sounding the alarm. According to the Health and Risk Behaviors of Massachusetts Youth 2021 report, health-related indicators linked to poor mental health have worsened over the past few years, especially among young members of the Black, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Yet, close to 80% of these youths have had difficulty accessing adequate mental health services. Factors contributing to these disparities include systemic barriers to care, discriminatory practices, and a significant shortage of a culturally diverse behavioral health workforce. Funding from the Franciscan Children’s Community Health Initiative will support WJC’s ongoing efforts to address these gaps in essential services.

“Boston Children’s and Franciscan Children’s have long recognized that one of the best ways for us to make a difference is to partner with others in the community,” says Shari Nethersole, MD, Vice President for Community Health and Engagement at Boston Children’s. “Through our institutional affiliation, we are excited to provide organizations with funding to strengthen connections with families, create more efficient systems of education and care, and build healthier futures for children, youth, and families that need it most.”

About William James College

Founded in 1974, William James partners with community agencies and organizations to eliminate barriers to education, improve access to high quality care, create a pathway to careers in behavioral health for students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and support the growing and evolving needs of the mental health workforce.  

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