Behavioral Health Residency Program
We provide master-prepared behavioral health professionals with enhanced training and clinical supervision in our clinics and partner behavioral health facilities throughout northern Indiana.
I was immediately drawn to the values, mission and ongoing innovation of HealthLinc. At my core, I am a helper, and have a special interest in working with incarcerated or transitioning populations, those in rural settings, those with substance abuse disorders and the LGBTQ+ community. When I discovered HealthLinc’s Behavioral Health Residency Program, I knew I had to be involved in this groundbreaking opportunity. This program is not simply a residency; it’s a door to unlocking potential within myself and reach my personal and professional goals. I am excited to work with HealthLinc on promoting health and well-being in an integrated and collaborative setting to serve the community I love dearly.
Jenna Bubalo-Szaday
Behavioral Health Resident
I realized the need for bilingual therapists while working for nonprofit organizations and hospitals, and when my family faced a hard situation in 2015. When COVID hit, the need for mental health services in vulnerable communities became clearer, pushing me to get my master’s degree. Access to mental health support for communities who face greater challenges because of language, cultural differences, mistrust in social services and other situations is still a great need in our area, and I want to help. I became a therapist to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed care and work with the Latinx/e, immigrant, refugee and vulnerable communities. It’s a pleasure to continue serving my community and contributing to HealthLinc’s mission.”
Gabriela Del Real Galindo
Behavioral Health Resident
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved helping people. I wanted to try and improve the quality of life for other human being, so when presented with HealthLinc’s Behavioral Health Residency Program, I believed it would be an amazing opportunity to put my love for helping others into full effect, and on a more positive, meaningful level. I am excited to embark on this journey with my cohort.
Sara Sharpe
Behavioral Health Resident
I’ve always been drawn to the social services and behavioral health field. I enjoy helping people and advocating for them when they may not be able to do so themselves. I was drawn to HealthLinc’s Behavioral Health Residency Program because it is an exciting opportunity to work for and receive compensation for a company that provides the education and support needed to grow your knowledge and experience to become a successful behavioral health professional.
Jessica Sternberg
Behavioral Health Resident
I always knew mental health was a big issue but did not realize how many people didn’t have access to services until I finished my graduate program. I chose to go into the behavioral health field to help people in need who are going through challenging times. I believe everyone should be educated on mental health, and everyone should have access to the support they need. I have always had a passion for helping people, so I chose HealthLinc’s Behavioral Health Residency Program because it will provide resources and counseling to my community and will allow me to help lower the stigma around mental health, creating positive growth and impact.
Jaslyn Taylor
Behavioral Health Resident
Residents in our Behavioral Health Residency Program will gain hands-on experience by providing brief behavioral health interventions in various settings. During their program, residents are expected to participate in different clinical rotations and/or shadowing experiences. They will work alongside trained professionals, including primary care providers, clinical pharmacists, psychiatrists/psychiatric nurse practitioners, community health workers, and certified addiction peer recovery coaches, in a multitude of healthcare settings, including but not limited to community health centers, psychiatric inpatient and detox facilities, residential treatment centers, community mental health centers, law enforcement and other behavioral health settings.
- Embrace Innovation to grow and expand the Behavioral Health Residency Program as it seeks to be a model for behavioral health care practice in the FQHC setting.
- Utilize Collaboration among preceptors, mentors and specialty providers to align practice requirements within each community to ensure the needs of patients are fulfilled.
- Increase Access to quality care by eliminating barriers through expanded training of behavioral health residents during the program.
- Demonstrate Respect in all circumstances by consistently treating all persons with compassion and integrity.
- Achieve Excellence by providing best-in-class patient care services in all aspects of the Behavioral Health Residency Program.
- Humbly provide Servant Care to all communities through advocacy activities, including developing quality improvement projects and engaging in leadership practices that impact care for all patients.
- Eligible for associate license in social work or mental health
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling or psychology
- Eligibility to work in the U.S.
- COVID-19 vaccination or a medical or religious exemption
The Behavioral Health Residency Program consists of 24 months of full-time employment at HealthLinc, broken up into two phases.
- Phase 1: Integrated behavioral health training at HealthLinc
- Phase 2: Addition of specialty rotations with behavioral health partners
Didactic training and quality improvement projects will be included in each phase, along with clinical supervision to obtain clinical licensure.
Core Elements
- Mentor Clinics – Sessions with a clinical mentor focused on the practice of episodic and acute care
- Precepted Clinics – Develop and manage a panel of new patients
- Specialty Rotations – Rotations with community health partners
- Didactic Sessions – Training sessions on conditions frequently seen in FQHCs and behavioral health facilities
- Weekly individual and group supervision
- Continuous training on HealthLinc’s integrated whole-person care service delivery, including access, continuity, planned care, team-based, prevention-focused and use of data.
- Training from experts in evidence-based practices to address chronic health conditions, mental health and substance use, including Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (fACT), Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and more.
- Ongoing multi-input evaluation component using qualitative and quantitative measures
- Training on our quality improvement model, including clinical microsystems and facilitation, as well as leadership development
Applications for the June 2024 cohort are now closed. Applications for the June 2025 cohort will open in December 2024.
Application Requirements
- CV or resume with five years of work and educational history sections in month and year format
- Copy of driver’s license
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling or psychology prior to start date
- 3 signed letters of recommendation.
- COVID-19 vaccination or a medical or religious exemption
- Eligible for associate license in social work or mental health
If selected for HealthLinc’s Behavioral Health Residency Program:
- Must obtain associate license within 90 days of start date
For more information about the Behavioral Health Residency Program, please email bhresidency@healthlincchc.org.
