DENVER — Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) is bolstering the city’s mental health workforce with the help of an $800,000 grant from the Caring for Denver Foundation. The funding aims to support students pursuing master’s degrees in behavioral health with an emphasis on addictions or a master’s in social work.
The initiative is expected to produce at least 25 new mental health professionals who will commit to working in Denver after graduation.
“Denver, like many major cities across the United States, is facing a critical shortage of clinical practitioners who provide behavioral health services,” said Prof. Jo Bailey, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at MSU Denver. “This grant will help address that gap by training dedicated professionals committed to serving the local community.”
Financial and Career Support for Students
The grant includes a full-time health career navigator, who will provide career guidance and professional development for students. Additionally, students completing their required internships will receive $7,500 per semester, with a total of $15,000 for two semesters. In return, recipients must commit to working in Denver for at least one year after graduation.
For students like Gaby Torres, the financial assistance has been transformative.
“With our basic needs covered, I can finally breathe,” said Torres, a member of the first cohort receiving the grant. “It was life-changing to know that there are organizations recognizing the financial inequities in this field and taking action to address them.”
A Commitment to Community Mental Health
Raised in Fort Collins, Torres values the opportunity to stay in Colorado and contribute to the community that shaped her.
“Growing up here, this community supported me, and I feel grateful to give back in the same way,” she said. “It makes me proud to be a social worker trained at MSU Denver, knowing that we are building a new generation of professionals with a strong community-focused foundation.”
By investing in students and requiring them to work locally, the Caring for Denver Foundation and MSU Denver are taking a crucial step toward addressing the city’s mental health crisis and ensuring accessible behavioral health care for the community.
