The Chicago School announced it has been awarded a $65,000 grant from the Kaiser Permanente Foundation’s Community Health program to expand access to mental health in Southern California through its Clinical Psychology community-based practicum program.
The funding will strengthen partnerships with organizations working in underserved communities and increase supervised clinical training opportunities for clinical psychology graduate students. By embedding trainees in community settings, the program will advance equitable, culturally responsive mental health care in the region. The grant also supports the expansion of regional partnerships, providing assistance for practicum-related student expenses, and enhancing partner capacity through targeted workforce training development.
“This investment from Kaiser Permanente underscores our continuous effort to strengthen the mental and physical health of communities, organizations, and individuals, which is the bedrock of the university’s mission,” said Michele Nealon, Psy.D., president of The Chicago School.
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing the U.S. faces a significant behavioral health workforce shortage, with over 6,400 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), impacting over 122 million people. Despite efforts to expand Medicaid services in California (Medi-Cal), more than two-thirds of Californians are not receiving care for their mental health needs. The Kaiser Permanente grant directly addresses this shortage, helping to ensure that more competent and culturally informed mental health professionals have access to real-life practice, effective training, and the support they need to give back to the community.
The funded practicum program guarantees that organizations across Southern California have access to highly trained psychology trainees:
- Working on-site 16–24 hours per week for 9–12 months, accruing 600–800 hours of supervised service annually.
- Directing clinical services for at least 40% of their time.
- Supporting outreach, psychoeducation, and in-service training.
Mario Ceballos, Kaiser Permanente Los Ángeles’ Community Health Manager, added: “More and more mental health awareness is essential to a healthy life. By supporting community-based programs to advance mental health care, Kaiser Permanente is helping our individuals, vulnerable populations, and underserved communities achieve their best health. By funding The Chicago School Clinical Psychology community-based practicum programs, we are advancing access to equitable care for all our members, patients, partners, workforce, and communities.”