Federal award addresses urgent need, geared toward increasing number of trained professionals available to support clinical teams, families, communities

The MGH Institute of Health Professions, in partnership with McLean Hospital and Mass General Brigham Behavioral and Mental Health (BMH), has received a $1.4 million, four-year federal award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to train and grow the behavioral health paraprofessional workforce in Massachusetts.

The initiative, Pathways to Paraprofessional Excellence, will begin recruiting participants later this year and is designed to prepare peer support specialists, recovery coaches, and entry-level mental health workers to serve in communities across the Commonwealth.

Addressing an Urgent Need

Massachusetts, like much of the nation, is facing a shortage of behavioral health professionals. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 42% of adults in the state report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and nearly 260,000 residents live with serious mental illness. Demand is especially high for children and adolescents: more than one in three young people have experienced a significant trauma in the past year, and according to the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, rates of depression among youth continue to climb. 

By creating structured pathways for paraprofessionals, the new program is geared toward increasing the number of trained individuals available to support clinical teams, families, and communities.

MGH Institute with McLean and MGB Behavioral and Mental Health: A Unique Partnership

As the only degree-granting member of Mass General Brigham, the MGH Institute brings expertise in health professions education and interprofessional training. McLean, ranked among the top psychiatric hospitals in the nation, contributes unmatched clinical training environments and a proven track record in mentoring early-career professionals.

Working together as part of the Mass General Brigham system, the two institutions will offer a hybrid model that blends classroom learning, simulation, and immersive fieldwork in hospitals, schools, and community health centers. Trainees will also receive mentorship and academic coaching, along with financial support to help reduce barriers to participation.

Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA, Provost and Vice President of the MGH Institute and principal investigator, said the grant underscores the value of partnership:

“This award reflects the strength of Mass General Brigham working as one system. By bringing together the MGH Institute’s innovative training models with world-class clinical expertise, we are preparing a new workforce of paraprofessionals who will expand access to behavioral health support for individuals and families across the region.”

Fairlee Fabrett, PhD, Director of Training and Staff Development at McLean Hospital, highlighted the hospital’s role in shaping the next generation of professionals:

“At McLean, we have long recognized the vital contributions paraprofessionals make in the lives and recovery of our patients. This program gives us the opportunity to combine rigorous training with mentorship and clinical experience, ensuring our future clinicians are ready to contribute meaningfully on day one.”

Looking Ahead 

Recruitment for the first class of trainees opens soon, with training expected to begin later this year. Graduates will be positioned to join care teams across Mass General Brigham and beyond, filling critical roles in hospitals, community health centers, and school-based programs.

As the behavioral health needs of the state continue to grow, the Pathways to Paraprofessional Excellence program represents an investment not just in workforce development, but in the future of care across Massachusetts.

“This initiative is a clear example of how our system can harness the strengths of its parts to solve pressing challenges,” said Christine Tebaldi, DNP, MPH, Chief Nursing Officer for McLean Hospital and Vice President of Nursing, Behavioral and Mental Health, for Mass General Brigham. “When the MGH Institute, McLean and the BMH team join forces under the Mass General Brigham umbrella, we are not just building a stronger workforce — we are demonstrating how academic innovation and clinical excellence together can make a real difference for the communities we serve.”

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