Are you studying to be a mental health professional? Applications are now being accepted for the VA Vet Center scholarships, which assist individuals pursuing graduate degrees in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling.
“These scholarships will help VA ensure all Veterans, service members and their families, including those in historically underserved areas, have access to Vet Center services with highly-qualified, trained and compassionate staff,” said Chief Readjustment Counseling Officer Michael Fisher.
How can I apply?
Individuals pursuing these mental health programs can access the scholarship application process at the Vet Centers Scholarship information page.
Student Veterans and those graduating soonest will receive reviewer preference. Applications submitted before April 30, 2023 will receive consideration for scholarship awards to coincide with Fall 2023 semester. Applications received after that date will continue to be reviewed for consideration for future awards.
What does the scholarship provide?
The scholarship provides funding to cover up to two years of graduate studies for individuals pursuing graduate degrees in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling.
Upon completion of their degrees, these mental health professionals will then serve full time for six years at one of VA’s 300 Vet Centers across the country, specifically in underserved areas and in states with a per-capita population of more than 5% Veterans.
What are Vet Centers?
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services. Those services include professional counseling to eligible Veterans and service members, including National Guard and Reserve components and their families.
Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.
In fiscal year 2022, 286,907 Veterans, service members (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) and their families received counseling at VA’s 300 Vet Centers, totaling nearly 1.4 million counseling and outreach encounters.
To find out more about Vet Centers or to find a location near you, visit https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/.
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I like to know if I can start a psychologist masters. I have a BA in social work , and have master degree in school administration, and bilingual education. But I’m 79 years old person . I fill stone and capable to go back to school again.
Wish this program had been available back in1971 when I completed an ms in counseling & guidance & completed 3 classes toward a phd before ………..
It’s ironic that the Vet Center would provide scholarships for their program after pushing out 40% of its total staff over the last few years. Thanks to the poor leadership of Mike Fisher the Vet Center lost some of the most experienced and dedicated of its people, including veterans with long years of Vet Center service. I spent 23 years of service in the Vet Center with much of it running a Vet Center in my community. I was forced to leave because my master’s degree in psychology did not meet their newly established standards. Strangely when I got my masters VA Voc Rehab paid for it while I was a Vet Center counselor. It’s worth asking why they would need this scholarship if the program was running so well? A 40% vacancy rating is horrendous.
I stopped going to graduate school for my social work degree a year ago due to costs. Do I still qualify? My goal was to work with veterans living with substance use disorder and mental health. I took 5 classes so far. I’d love to go back and finish if I qualify for this.
What about the study of addiction? With the amount of individuals dying due to drug overdose and more than 50% of individuals suffering with mental health issues have an addiction issue as well. Licensed addiction counselors should be included in this scholarship
Iam, 66 year old Retired Vet. 2019, i graduated from Universidad Central, Bayamon, with 3.65 ave. In Fisical Education Teacher. I did the pre-admission for post graduated, for concerlling for addiction. I would like to know if i qualified.