Systemwide Program Director of couple and family therapy programs Linna Wang, Ph.D. has won a grant of $739,553 under the California Mental Health Services Act. This three-year award, which seeks to expand access to couple and family therapy services through innovative programming, is administered through the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

The award will fund 15 internship and practicum stipends in the amount of $18,500 to couple and family therapy students with cultural and/or linguistic competencies to work with underserved populations in public mental health systems--especially in counties of need--in order to increase access to couple and family therapy services in these underserved areas.

These stipends will be split over the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years. Recipients will carry out their clinical training in public mental health agencies, preferably in counties of need, and commit to one year of employment in public mental health systems after graduation. At least 15% of the stipend recipients have to gain employment in counties of need. This program will grant stipends in the first two years and will monitor student employment in its third year.