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Six-week Summer Academy

North Texas Behavioral Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)

What is HCOP?

Supported by an award from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA), the North Texas Behavioral HCOP seeks to address unmet needs related to behavioral health in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex including: 

health and behavioral disparities fueled by poverty and lack of educational opportunities

a shortage of behavioral health providers from disadvantaged backgrounds (i.e., specifically economic, and educational)

a lack of support for disadvantaged students moving across the high school, pre-matriculation, post-baccalaureate and behavioral health profession pipeline

As a direct response to these issues, the North Texas Behavioral HCOP will offer a six-week curriculum-based summer program consisting of six hours daily of (a) classroom learning, (b) experiential, team-based/interprofessional behavioral health training, (c) professional mentorship, counseling, and financial support calibrated for the different levels of program ambassadors.

Health Careers Opportunity Program Benefits

  • Program participants receive a stipend
  • Participation in a six week structured behavioral health, classroom learning academy
  • Introduction to clinical science research
  • Field trips, experiential clinical training/observation
  • Professional mentorship
  • Guest speakers
  • Peer mentoring and support
  • Academic/College advising
  • Financial support

HCOP Program Levels

High School Ambassadors

Summer high school program targeting income eligible rising high school juniors and seniors.

Pre-Matriculation Ambassadors

Summer undergraduate program targeting college bound high school graduates .

Post-baccalaureate Ambassadors

Summer Post-baccalaureate program targeting students who have earned an undergraduate degree with a behavioral science focus.

Psychology Ambassadors

Health service psychology profession students completing their first or second year of doctoral training.

Curriculum topics include:

Mental Health First Aide

Clinical Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Learning Theory

Lifespan Development

Statistics

Psychological Assessment

Social Psychology

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Physiological Psychology and Psychopharmacology

Research Methods

Leadership skills

Communication strategies

Business Etiquette

Networking

Organizational Skills