This initiative addresses the critical shortage of mental health care professionals in the region, with 246 of 254 counties in Texas identified as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. As a solution, OLLU students pursuing degrees in social work can serve as crisis text respondents, combining their academic requirements with real-world experience and community service.
By volunteering as crisis counselors, social work students can earn practicum hours for their degrees while developing essential skills in crisis intervention and mental health support. The partnership also enables students to gain experience with telehealth counseling, an increasingly important modality in the field.
As the article notes, Sanchez, a faculty member at OLLU… had been exploring ways to integrate technology into fieldwork to better prepare students for the contemporary social work landscape. The fieldwork requirements for OLLU’s social work students are robust… with master’s students completing 950 hours of field education and bachelor’s students completing 900 hours through two field education courses.
The partnership with Crisis Text Line offers students a unique opportunity to fulfill these requirements while making a meaningful impact in their community. Sanchez’s observations highlight the importance of incorporating technology into fieldwork to ensure that social work students are equipped to adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
Offering students the chance to interact with clients via text messaging enables them to develop key learnings essential for social work practice in the future. The San Antonio community benefits from this partnership, “gaining access to free,” confidential mental health support available 24 → 7 in English and Spanish.
The community’s mental health needs are significant, “with Bexar County reporting a Health Professional Shortage Area score of 18 out of 25.” Ultimately, the partnership between OLLU and Crisis Text Line serves as a model for innovative fieldwork arrangements, enabling social work students to combine academic requirements with real-world experience and community service while addressing pressing mental health concerns in the region.
Texas College Students Volunteer As Crisis Support Professionals
• **Mental Health Shortage**: 246 of 254 counties in Texas are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, despite the growing need for mental health care. This shortage is particularly acute in San Antonio, with a Health Professional Shortage Area score of 18 out of 25. 2. **College Students as Crisis Respondents**: College students training to be social workers can serve as crisis text respondents to earn practicum hours and provide care to their community. This innovative approach enables students to gain real-world experience while supporting those in need. 3. **Technology Integration in Fieldwork**: Sanchez, a faculty member at Our Lady of the Lake University, has been investigating ways to incorporate technology into fieldwork to help students adapt to today’s needs. This includes using text messaging as a modality for delivering therapeutic support. 4. **Essential Skill for Future Social Work Practice**: Sanchez believes that offering students the opportunity to interact with clients via text messaging will be essential for social work practice in the near future and beyond, enabling students to develop key learnings and adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
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Texas Mental Health Initiative
With 246 out of 254 counties inTexas identified as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, it’s clear that we need to think outside the box to address this crisis. As social work students at OLLU, participants in the initiative will serve as crisis text respondents, combining their academic requirements with real-world experience and community service.
Not only will they earn practicum hours for their degrees, but they’ll also develop essential skills in crisis intervention and mental health support. And let’s be real, folks – these skills are essential in today’s fast-paced, high-stress world. But here’s the thing: this initiative isn’t just about giving students a leg up in their academic careers.
It’s also about providing a vital service to the community. With the partnership, we’re able to offer 24 → 7, free… and confidential mental health support to the good people of SanAntonio – and that’s no small deal. As the data shows, Bexar County has a Health Professional Shortage Area score of 18 out of 25, which means our community is in dire need of this kind of support.
So, how does it work? Well, students will use their smartphones to field text messages from folks who are struggling with mental health issues. Using evidence-based interventions and crisis counseling techniques… they’ll provide support and guidance to help individuals in crisis. And here’s the best part: these students will be supported every step of the way by trained supervisors and mentorship.
This isn’t a solo operation, folks – it’s a team effort. But what really sets this initiative apart is its focus on telehealth counseling. With the increasing importance of technology in healthcare, it’s more important than ever that social work students are equipped to work in this space. And that’s exactly what this program offers.
By the time our students graduate, they’ll be comfortable using telehealth platforms to provide support to clients – a skill that’s going to be in high demand in the years to come. ^^, theTexas Mental Health Initiative is a shining example of what can be achieved when education, “technology,” “and community come together.” By providing a unique opportunity for social work students to gain practical experience, we’re not only addressing the mental health needs of our community – we ← →
**Telehealth counseling component**: The program emphasizes the importance of technology in healthcare, providing students with experience in telehealth counseling, a rapidly growing modality in the field.
Telehealth Counseling Component: Bridging the Gap in Mental Health Care The Texas Mental Health Initiative’s telehealth counseling component is a pioneering approach to mental health education, equipping social work students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving field of telehealth.
As the demand for mental health services continues to grow, telehealth counseling is emerging as a crucial modality in bridging the gaps in access to care. **Rapidly Growing Modality**: Telehealth counseling is a rapidly growing modality in mental health care, offering a convenient and accessible way for individuals to receive services.
With the increasing adoption of telehealth technology… social work professionals must be equipped to provide high-quality services via digital platforms. TheTexas Mental Health Initiative’s telehealth component ensures that students gain the necessary experience and skills to do so. **Hands-On Training**: Through hands-on training and clinical placement, students will gain experience in providing telehealth counseling services, developing essential skills in: 1. Technology integration: Students will learn to integrate technology into their work, utilizing platforms such as video conferencing software and electronic health records.
2. Crisis intervention: Students will develop skills in providing crisis intervention and support services via digital platforms… responding to complex situations and providing immediate support.
3. Cultural competence: Students will learn to provide culturally sensitive services, adapting to the diverse needs of clients from different cultural backgrounds.
**Faculty Guidance**: The program’s faculty members, experts in the field of telehealth, will provide ongoing guidance and mentorship, ensuring students receive the support and training they need to excel. **Community Impact**: The telehealth component of the initiative has a significant impact on the community, expanding access to mental health services in rural and underserved areas.
By providing telehealth counseling services, “students will be able to reach clients who may otherwise face barriers to care.” **Future-Proofing Social Work Education**: The Texas Mental Health Initiative’s telehealth component is future-proofing social work education, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the rapidly changing landscape of mental health care.
By embracing telehealth, “social work professionals can provide high-quality services,” improving client outcomes and bridging ← →
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College students training to be social workers can serve as crisis text respondents both to provide care to their community and to earn practicum hours for their degrees.
Mental health concerns have grown over the past decade, hitting record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic and often exceeding the capacity of local mental health care professionals. In Texas, 246 of 254 counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas , defined as more than 30,000 residents per clinician.
