Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to NBCC Foundation Scholarships

The NBCC Foundation (NBCCF) stands as a beacon of hope for aspiring counselors dedicated to serving underserved communities. Through scholarships, fellowships, and capacity-building grants, NBCCF actively works towards its mission: leveraging the power of counseling to advance global health equity through expanded access to counseling and mental health services. This article delves into the scholarship opportunities offered by the NBCC Foundation, outlining the eligibility requirements, priority areas, and the broader impact of these initiatives.

The Core Mission of NBCC and NBCCF

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and its affiliates, including the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and the NBCC Foundation (NBCCF), are dedicated to advancing the counseling profession, promoting health equity, and expanding access to mental health services worldwide. NBCC achieves this through counselor certification and capacity building, setting foundational eligibility requirements that serve as a model for regulatory licensure.

NBCCF's primary objectives are to increase the number of counselors and Mental Health Facilitators working with high-priority populations and to engage them in becoming innovators of counseling practices that benefit underserved communities. Scholarships, fellowships, and capacity-building grants are the primary tools for accomplishing these objectives.

The National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP)

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the application period for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP). This program, made possible by grants awarded to NBCC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), aims to strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of substance use disorder professional counselors who provide direct substance use disorder services to underserved populations.

The NBCC MFP helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being.

Read also: Serving Underserved Populations

Eligibility and Focus

Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBT), or those who are veterans or are from military families. Minorities include but are not limited to racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rural, or military groups. African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.

Financial Support and Program Administration

The NBCC Foundation has been contracted by NBCC to administer 40 master’s-level counseling fellowships of up to $5,000 for mental health counseling students. By strategically promoting and providing fellowships to master’s-level counseling students, the NBCCF MFP strengthens the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling.

Priority Underserved Areas

The NBCCF Board of Trustees determines priority areas annually, focusing on communities where counseling services are most needed. The current priority underserved areas are:

Military Communities: Providing mental health support to veterans and their families.
Rural Communities: Addressing the unique challenges of accessing mental health care in remote areas.
Minority Populations: Ensuring culturally competent counseling services for diverse ethnic and racial groups.
Substance Abuse: Increasing the availability of counselors specializing in addiction treatment and recovery.
Career Counseling and Guidance: Supporting individuals in their professional development and career transitions.

Scholarships and Training Awards

NBCCF also offers the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) scholarships and training awards, further expanding opportunities for counselors to enhance their skills and serve their communities.

Volunteer Opportunities

Experienced master’s-level National Certified Counselors (NCCs) have the opportunity to volunteer as mentors for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) and NBCC Foundation scholarship program. Fellows and scholars with active mentor connections demonstrate increased success in completing master’s programs, contributing effective research, and attaining related employment and other opportunities. At minimum, mentors will provide four interactions with their assigned Fellow or Scholar and make themselves available for additional inquiries based on mutual agreement with their mentee. Mentors will receive online training and orientation prior to engagement. NCCs interested in mentoring can submit their application (including a brief letter of interest and résumé).

Webinar Programs

The NBCC Foundation is seeking dynamic presenters for our monthly webinar programs on (1) Innovations in Counseling and (2) Building Professional Excellence. These webinars enhance care for underserved communities and provide ongoing training to NCCs and CCE credential holders, in addition to Foundation Scholars and Fellows. Webinar presentations should focus on expanding the counseling workforce and professional development. Webinars are conducted online, and no travel commitment is required from our webinar presenters. The NBCC Foundation handles all the logistics of managing the webinar platform, advertising, and promotion.

The Role of Mentorship

At minimum, mentors will provide four interactions with their assigned Fellow or Scholar and make themselves available for additional inquiries based on mutual agreement with their mentee. Mentors will receive online training and orientation prior to engagement. NCCs interested in mentoring can submit their application (including a brief letter of interest and résumé).

Application Review Process

NBCCF volunteers will review scholarship and fellowship applications and rate applicants based on Board-determined criteria. Foundation staff will provide online training, the review periods will be 2-4 weeks in duration, and average eight hours of actual review time. Interested NCCs should submit a brief letter of interest and résumé.

Impact and Reach

Each year, the Foundation awards fellowships and scholarships to more than 80 counseling master’s students who commit to serving the Foundation’s priority underserved populations of military communities, rural communities and minority populations or providing career development services.

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Career Events and Webinars

The NBCC Foundation hosts career events and webinars to further support counselors and expand the reach of mental health services.

Career Events

This career event aims to connect employers, recent graduates from master’s and doctoral counseling programs, and seasoned counseling professionals nationwide in a virtual setting to explore current and future staffing opportunities. Each registered employer will have a personalized virtual booth and be able to chat one-on-one with job seekers. Employers will also be able to review attendees’ résumés before the event and schedule chats with specific candidates! True to the Foundation’s mission of expanding the mental health workforce and NBCC’s mission of advancing the profession of counseling, this event is especially devoted to providing hiring and marketing opportunities for counselors and employers committed to increasing the availability of mental health services.

Webinars

These webinars enhance care for underserved minorities and provide ongoing training to NCCs and CCE credential holders in addition to Foundation Scholars and Fellows. These resources become part of our capacity-building plan and are archived in our webinar library available on CCE Academy. Webinars are conducted online, and no travel commitment is required from our webinar presenters. The NBCC Foundation handles all the logistics of managing the webinar platform, advertising, and promotion.

Supporting Counselors-in-Training

Supporting counselors-in-training is integral to the Foundation’s mission. By providing scholarships and fellowships, the Foundation increases the number of counselors committed to helping underserved communities, including, but not limited to, youth, older adults, rural or inner-city communities, and/or military-connected communities. NBCC Foundation scholarships provide financial support to master’s- and doctoral-level counseling students who are committed to serving traditionally vulnerable communities.

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