NSU awarded $2.3M to boost rural mental health

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University’s School of Social Work has been awarded a transformative $2.3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to launch a new initiative aimed at addressing the behavioral health workforce shortage in rural Oklahoma.

The Rural Recovery and Resilience Social Work Program, which begins in July 2025, will support 15 Master of Social Work students annually over the next four years by providing $25,000 stipends during their final internship semester, access to evidence-based training and opportunities to attend professional conferences and workshops. The funding will allow students to focus fully on their clinical development without the burden of outside employment.

“This grant provides crucial support to our MSW program by expanding access to training in evidence-based practices, with a focus on trauma-informed care and substance use treatment tailored to rural Oklahoma,” Dr. Eun-Jun Bang, NSU School of Social Work department chair and MSW program director, said. “The grant also strengthens our partnerships with local behavioral health agencies, offering valuable internships and opportunities for community engagement.”

The initiative is designed to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in northeastern Oklahoma and increase access to mental health services in underserved rural communities. By easing financial barriers, the program also encourages more students to pursue social work careers in areas that need them most. According to Bang, many students in the social work program are from rural areas similar to those they hope to serve. This fact, in addition to the northeastern region’s shortage of mental health care providers inspired Bang and his team to apply for the grant that will increase the amount of trained social work professionals in the behavioral health workforce.

Bang added that the program’s evidence-based training focuses heavily on trauma-informed care and substance use treatment, particularly Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

“The evidence-based training opportunities that will be available to students are focused on trauma-informed care and substance use treatment, specifically Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,” Bang said. “In addition to EMDR, students will attend a series of workshops, conferences, etc. that focus on building practical clinical skills for working with individuals affected by trauma and substance use, and professionals within an integrative care system.”

According to Bang, the program is the result of a two-year planning process, including the development of the proposal, grant application and coordination with key community partners such as Brockport Research Institute, Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services, Family and Children’s Services and Green Country Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and the Health & Wellness Center.

The project is led by the School of Social Work faculty: Allison Mason, Clinical Assistant Professor; Dr. Allen Shamow, Assistant Professor and Dr. Samuel Asante, Associate Professor with Bang serving as Project Director. This team will oversee program implementation, guide student training and development and collaborate closely with community partners to ensure the initiative’s long-term impact and success.

“This grant represents NSU’s longstanding commitment to support and empower students to become impactful leaders in their profession,” NSU President Rodney Hanley said. “We are honored to receive funding that will allow us to further invest in the health and well-being of our communities by preparing our students to meet the behavioral health needs of a historically underserved area.”

For more information about the graduate social work program at NSU, visit nsuok.edu/MSW.

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