People Incorporated Mental Health Trainee Program

We’re asking for your help in filling the gap in one very special program at People Incorporated.

The People Incorporated Pathways - Mental Health Practitioner Trainee Program provides a paid, immersive internship opportunity for emerging mental health professionals. Even more, it’s a critical component of our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce and equitable mental health care.

Minnesota law requires a recent graduate to have a supervised, practicum experience before they can become a mental health practitioner. Most opportunities for students to accomplish this come in unpaid internships, requiring many to juggle the physical and emotional intensity of a full-time internship and an additional job to remain financially stable – a challenging feat that often prolongs one’s ability to fully engage in providing mental health care – particularly as there is a shortage of mental health practitioners.

Now in its 5th year, the Mental Health Trainee program commits to a goal of 75 percent of trainees coming from diverse backgrounds each year. This helps us ensure that our clients receive care from people with similar backgrounds, cultural experiences, and languages that feel familiar and safe. Since its inception, 57% of program graduates are still employed by People Incorporated.

People Incorporated has a remaining gap of $30,000 to fund the training and hourly pay for a cohort of six trainees in 2020-2021. Your gift will help us close the gap and provide critical training experience to the next generation of mental health professionals.