Montclair State University has been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to address critical shortages in school psychology and mental health services across public schools in New Jersey. The five-year funding will support the university’s efforts to recruit, train, and retain a diverse pool of school psychologists in collaboration with local school districts, including West Orange, East Orange, and Clifton.
The grant is part of a larger $70 million initiative by the Biden-Harris administration to expand access to school-based mental health services nationwide. Montclair’s project, titled EPIC-MHP: Enhancing Preservice Instruction for Comprehensive Mental Health Provision, aims to develop best practices in school psychology and create a robust pipeline of qualified professionals ready to meet the challenges facing today’s educational and mental health systems.
EPIC-MHP: Enhancing Mental Health Services in Schools
The EPIC-MHP program is designed to provide innovative and inclusive solutions to enhance the mental health and well-being of students in New Jersey schools. Over the next five years, the program will enroll and train 60 school psychology graduate students. These trainees will earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with State Certification in School Psychology and a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Certificate, which prepares them to offer specialized mental health services in schools.
Through structured fieldwork experiences, trainees will be guided by Montclair faculty and qualified school-based supervisors. The program emphasizes the implementation of MTSS initiatives, a framework designed to support students at varying levels of mental health need.
Talida State, Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Montclair’s College for Education and Engaged Learning (CEEL), is the principal investigator of the project. She underscores the importance of preparing school psychologists who can tackle the growing mental health challenges in schools by promoting the well-being of all students.
“We want to prepare a new generation of school psychologists with the expertise to tackle the growing mental health challenges in our schools,” said State. “By embedding MTSS principles into their training, we are preparing them not only to provide direct mental health services but also to lead system-wide initiatives that promote the well-being of all students.”
Innovative and Inclusive Training for Future School Psychologists
The EPIC-MHP program aims to cultivate culturally responsive and diverse school psychologists who are well-equipped to serve the needs of students from varied backgrounds. The program’s focus on MTSS provides future psychologists with the tools needed to implement comprehensive mental health services at multiple levels, from individual interventions to schoolwide initiatives.
Graduates of the program will gain:
- A strong foundation in the MTSS framework.
- Supervision from credentialed professionals in implementing schoolwide mental health efforts.
- Hands-on experience in co-planning and implementing MTSS initiatives that directly benefit students.
- Marketable experience in a growing field, bridging theory and practice.
Paid Practica and Internships: Reducing Financial Barriers
The program also offers paid practica and internships, which are vital for providing trainees with high-quality fieldwork experience in partner districts. These paid opportunities are designed to reduce the financial burdens often associated with school psychology training, making the field more accessible, particularly for underrepresented groups.
“Paid practica and internships are crucial to ensuring that trainees receive quality experiences in local partner districts,” said Julia Coyne, Director of the School Psychology Certificate Program and Psychoeducational Services Clinic. “It’s wonderful to be able to reduce some of the financial burdens associated with school psychology training in New Jersey.”
The stipends provided through the grant are seen as a game-changer, easing financial barriers and making it easier for students to pursue careers in school psychology. By offering financial support, Montclair is working to make school psychology more accessible to diverse candidates and ensure that more underrepresented individuals enter the field.
Cross-College Collaboration and Commitment to Diversity
The success of the EPIC-MHP program is a result of the cross-collaboration between departments at Montclair State University, particularly within the College for Education and Engaged Learning (CEEL) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). This collaborative approach aligns with the university’s Strategic Plan 2025: Project Soar, which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
By working together, the two colleges have created an entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary approach to school psychology training, which not only enhances the professional development of students but also ensures that they are well-prepared to address the mental health needs of diverse student populations.
The EPIC-MHP project exemplifies Montclair State University’s commitment to developing a transformative recruitment and training-to-employment pipeline that equips future school psychologists with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the mental health and educational needs of New Jersey’s public school students.
Summary of the EPIC-MHP Program
Grant Amount: $3.5 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Education.
Program Focus: Recruitment, training, and retention of diverse, culturally responsive school psychologists.
Collaborating Districts: West Orange, East Orange, and Clifton school districts.
Training Model: Includes a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, State Certification in School Psychology, and a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Certificate.
Support: Paid practica and internships to reduce financial barriers for trainees.
Goal: To prepare school psychologists capable of implementing schoolwide mental health efforts and supporting the well-being of all students.
This grant represents a significant investment in the future of mental health services in New Jersey schools, ensuring that a new generation of highly skilled and diverse school psychologists will be equipped to address the growing mental health challenges faced by students today.
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