Mentored Internship Program (MIP)

The MIP project provides opportunities for students 18 and older and at multiple stages of their education to gain practical on-the-job experience. The goal of the MIP project is to enhance the professional development of diverse students through thoughtful mentored internships and to grow the future behavioral health (BH) workforce.

The MIP grant funds California nonprofit provider organizations, tribal organizations, and county-operated providers that deliver BH services (substance use disorder [SUD] treatment, mental health [MH] or co-occurring disorder programming) to adolescents, adults, or families. The project prioritizes organizations working in underserved and diverse communities.

Grant funding enables organizations to develop and implement in-house mentored internship programs in coordination with educational organization partners, such as community colleges, vocational programs, public and private colleges and universities and high schools. Grant funding covers:

• Mentor and intern salaries, training, and professional development.
• Subcontracts and direct expenses required for developing a mentored internship program at the BH organization.
• Community outreach to increase referrals.
• Costs related to the development of intern recruitment, application, and support processes at the educational partner.
• Training, technical assistance, and other supports for all involved.