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Florida State University’s Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (Stoops CFC), located in the College of Social Work, has been granted a $2 million multi-year federal award to tackle the critical mental health emergency impacting children and families in Florida’s Panhandle.
The program enhances accessibility to early intervention resources while concurrently developing a sustainable workforce pipeline, bolstering community welfare and job prospects in Leon County and adjacent regions.
“FSU’s dedication to research-informed, community-involved solutions is evident in the Stoops CFC’s initiatives to widen access to early intervention resources and foster a sustainable behavioral health workforce. By enhancing and reinforcing the workforce, we are confronting urgent community issues while influencing national practices and policies.”
— David Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work
“FSU’s dedication to research-informed, community-involved solutions is evident in the Stoops CFC’s initiatives to widen access to early intervention resources and foster a sustainable behavioral health workforce,” stated David Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work and a co-principal investigator on the project. “By enhancing and reinforcing the workforce, we are confronting urgent community issues while influencing national practices and policies.”
Guided by Tai Cole, principal investigator and associate director of Stoops CFC, this initiative arises at a pivotal moment for the area. Youth suicide rates in Northwest Florida rank among the highest in the state, with some school districts reporting student-to-counselor ratios over 1,000 to 1 — four times beyond the nationally suggested standard.
Workforce Development and Apprenticeships
A key priority of the initiative is the Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training Level 1 and Level 2 Program, which allocates $1 million for stipends for apprenticeships, guaranteeing that participants are remunerated while gaining practical experience. The program will attract high school seniors, General Educational Development completions, and recent university graduates to prepare and train them as Certified Behavioral Health Technicians. Trainees will receive instruction in trauma-informed care, simulation-based crisis response practice, and structured mentorship.
“This program paves meaningful career paths for young adults while simultaneously broadening desperately needed school-based and community behavioral health support,” remarked Ellen Piekalkiewicz, director of Stoops CFC and a co-principal investigator. “It represents an investment, both in our workforce and in the resilience of our families and communities.”
This initiative aligns with and bolsters the interdisciplinary strengths of FSU Health, which integrates the university’s health-oriented projects and programs and collaborates closely with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) to enhance clinical, training, and research opportunities across the region.
“This program paves meaningful career paths for young adults while simultaneously broadening desperately needed school-based and community behavioral health support. It represents an investment, both in our workforce and in the resilience of our families and communities.”
— Ellen Piekalkiewicz, director of Stoops CFC
As part of its comprehensive strategy, FSU Health and TMH are also collaborating to create a new academic health center and teaching hospital in Panama City. This infrastructural expansion not only improves access to care but also establishes new venues for clinical education, seamlessly aligning with the apprenticeship model of the Stoops CFC grant initiative.
By integrating behavioral health workforce development within the larger FSU Health framework, the initiative ensures that paraprofessional trainees are linked to a continuous educational and professional pathway, from entry-level apprenticeships to advanced clinical training. This integrated framework enhances the long-lasting sustainability of the workforce pipeline throughout North Florida.
The initiative also leverages collaboration between the College of Social Work and Anne’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, particularly the School of Teacher Education, to deliver rigorous, evidence-based training. Local educational systems, including Leon County Schools, and community partners such as DISC Village, Bay Area Youth Services (BAYS), and the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, will provide apprenticeships and direct service opportunities.
“This grant not only broadens access to mental health services for our students but also generates new employment avenues for young people in Leon County and across the Panhandle,” stated Rocky Hanna, superintendent of Leon County Schools. “It is mutually beneficial for families, schools, and the regional workforce.”
By its fourth year, the program aims to train and position at least 200 behavioral health paraprofessionals throughout the Panhandle. Expected outcomes include increased access to timely support for students, enhanced resources for families, and a fortified behavioral health system throughout North Florida.
The Stoops CFC, renowned for its leadership in the Rebound and Recovery program and SAMHSA’s Southeast Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center, is exceptionally positioned to spearhead this initiative. By utilizing its expertise in workforce development, community partnerships, and now aligning with FSU Health’s regional clinical expansion, the center will continue to advance Florida State University’s mission to enhance access to behavioral health services, particularly in underserved rural and coastal regions.
For additional details about the Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children, visit cfc.fsu.edu or reach out to Associate Director Tai Cole at [email protected].
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