The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Rehabilitation Services Administration (OSERS/RSA) has awarded Eniko Rak with a five-year training grant to fund up to 36 students in the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling master’s program.
The goal of the project, titled “Advanced Training for Rehabilitation Counselors to Optimize Outcomes for Consumers with Mental Illness and Address Personnel Shortages in State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies,” is to fill emerging needs in the mental health care and vocational rehabilitation of persons with psychiatric disabilities. State vocational rehabilitation agencies often see a large number of clients with mental illness, but because of the lack of qualified providers, this population often remains unserved or underserved.
The $750,000 training grant will allow for RSA scholars to earn a master’s of science degree in counseling with a concentration in psychiatric disabilities. These graduates will help increase the supply of trained personnel available to state and to other public or nonprofit agencies involved in the rehabilitation of individuals with mental illness.
Eniko Rak, PhD, CRC, is an associate professor in the division.