Integrated Health Scholars Program
Our Purpose
To increase the supply of social work professionals prepared to provide high-quality integrated behavioral health services in rural and other high-need communities in Kansas and western Missouri.
Integrated Health Scholars
We provide a value-added educational experience for exceptional KU clinical MSW students residing in Kansas or Missouri to develop knowledge and skills for interprofessional clinical practice and leadership in integrated health care. Each year, we support approximately 28 Scholars who:
- Receive a $10K scholarship during their specialization year (fall/spring)
- Complete a clinical field practicum offering interprofessional learning opportunities in sites such as primary care clinics, hospitals, mental health and substance use treatment centers
- Participate in “value-added” monthly training in telehealth and integrated, culturally competent care for children, youth and adults experiencing or at risk for behavioral health disorders
- Receive support for job placement through community partnerships and guidance on career development
- Complete and present a Capstone Project highlighting a practice innovation or improvement project at their field practicum
- Commit to pursuing post-graduation employment in behavioral health within an underserved community
- Join an informal network of Scholar graduates across Kansas, western Missouri and beyond
The application has closed for selection of 2023-24 Scholars. The application process for 2024-25 Scholars will be open in late fall 2024.
Integrated Health Care
This video, created by the Scholars Program, conveys key aspects of what social workers do in integrated health care settings. The video defines integrated health care, highlights the unique role and a “typical” day for social workers in integrated care, and identifies the impact that social workers can make in these settings. Special thanks to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and HealthCore Clinic for their contributions to this video.
Social Workers in Integrated Health Care
Telehealth
COVID-19 was a catalyst for the expansion of tele-behavioral health service provision that is here to stay. The Scholars Program promotes technology integration and training for classroom and field educators to support safe, ethical, and competent telebehavioral health provision.
Scholars Training
Value-Added Training
Scholars participate in required monthly seminars (outside of standard coursework) offered in blended and experiental format to build knowledge and skills in clinical practice, professional development and leadership in integrated health care. Seminars include interprofessional practitioner-led sessions that take place at agencies that provide integrated health services. Seminars address a range of brief interventions and current topics such as
- Engaging Individuals in Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care
- Providing Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care
- Motivational Interviewing: Enhancing Motivation for Behavior Change
- The Intersection of Culture & Place: Promoting Health in Medically Underserved Communities
- Substance Use Interventions: Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Interprofessional Practice and Collaborative Team-Based Care (with the KU School of Nursing and KU Medical Center)
- Standardized Patient Interprofessional Experience (with KU School of Pharmacy)
- Health Care Leadership in Rural and Medically Underserved Communities
Each training includes content on telehealth and technology.
Practicum-based Training
Practicum sites for Scholars provide opportunities to experience working in integrated health (settings addressing physical and behavioral health) providing team-based care with rural and other underserved individuals. Field sites vary from year to year depending upon where current Scholars reside. Sites include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), primary care clinics, hospitals, community mental health centers (CMHCs), substance use treatment programs, and other behavioral health service agencies. On occasion, Scholars may be placed in schools or specialty mental health settings. The Scholars Team works closely with the Field Education Office to match Scholars with practicum sites that align with student interests and Scholars requirements.
A unique aspect of field for Scholars is the requirement to complete a Capstone Project that features innovative work done at their field practicum. Each year, Scholars develop programs and influence social work practices that contribute to their agencies. Students present highlights of their work in a professional poster which is shared at a community event.
If you are an agency interested in providing field education for an Integrated Health Scholar, please contact us!
The Scholars
Learn more about current & former scholars
Integrated Health Scholars
Ilexa Axelrod - Health Partnership Clinic (Olathe)
Megan Belaire - Headquarters Counseling Center (Lawrence)
Timothy Bianco - University Health – Behavioral Health (KC, MO)
Maggie Burton - Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare (St. Joseph, MO)
Clara Chollet - MARC Head Start (Kansas City, MO)
Jessica Pinkerton Cox - University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Pediatrics (KCK)
Kalisha Dixon - AIDS Project of the Ozarks (Joplin, MO)
Cara Ebersole - University Health - Hospital Hill (KC, MO)
Reonna Faller - Grand Lake Mental Health Center (Miami, OK)
Chelsea Foster - Grand Lake Mental Health Center (Miami, OK)
Audra Fullerton - Family Peace Initiative/Stormont Vail Emergency Department (Topeka)
Samantha Gibson - Ascend Hospice (Lawrence)
Zach Kelly - COMCARE of Sedgwick County (Wichita)
Kathryn Keyes - Lawrence Public Schools (Lawrence)
Jewel Knight - New Chance (Dodge City)
Donald LaForte - Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg clinic)
Kira Lake - Four County Mental Health Center (Arkansas City)
Chelsea Liu - Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists (Lawrence)
Lisa Marin - University of Kansas Health System – Care Management (KCK)
Mallory Martin - Phoenix Home Care and Hospice
Stephanie Morris - Saint Luke’s Behavioral Health (KC, MO)
Emily Mushinski - Children's Mercy (KC, MO)
Kristin Nichols - University of Kansas Medical Center Alzheimer’s Disease Center (Fairway)
Dakota Patrick - University of Kansas Health System – Care Management (KCK)
Sophie Peterson - Ascend Hospice (Overland Park)
Diana Ramirez - Tri-County Mental Health Center (KC, MO)
Janet Reinke - University of Kansas Medical Center Alzheimer’s Disease Center (Fairway)
Annaliese Rosales Ortiz - USD 500 Kansas City, Kansas Schools Special Education (KCK)
Rachel Sandle - Bert Nash WRAP (Lawrence)
Paige Sears - North Kansas City Hospital Behavioral Health Navigator (North KC, MO)
Jocelyn Segura - University of Kansas Health System – Care Management (KCK)
Clara Selam - Headquarters Counseling Center (Lawrence)
Nicole Shirley Freeman - USD 229 Blue Valley School District (Overland Park)
Michelle Smith - University Health – Behavioral Health (KC, MO)
Calissa States - KVC Residential Hospital (KCK)
Jodi Steinberg - AdventHealth Behavioral Health (Shawnee Mission)
Emily Stratton - Children's Mercy (KC, MO)
Addison Turner - USD 500 Kansas City, Kansas Schools Special Education (KCK)
Rachel Wolf - Kids TLC (Olathe)
Samantha Wolverton - Four County Mental Health Center (Independence)
Rylie Zasypkin –Odom - Children's Mercy (KC, MO)
Rebekkah Aarnes Saint Luke’s Health System – Progressive Care (Kansas City)
Brenda Adams Community Health Center-SEK school-based clinic (Pittsburg)
Courtney Alexander Van Go, Inc. (Lawrence)
Gabriella Barnum Swope Health Services (Kansas City)
Tobi Barta Midland Care Connection (Topeka)
Isabelle Bauguess Valeo Behavioral Health (Topeka)
Edan Belihu University of Kansas Health System-Case Management (Kansas City)
Jacob Bigus Interpersonal Psychiatry (Lawrence)
Toni Bond University of Kansas Health System Strawberry Hill (Kansas City)
Kasey Garzillo Bossard Lawrence Public Schools (Lawrence)
Tennyson Clary Family Guidance Center (Saint Joseph)
Mirissa Corbin Truman Medical Center -Hospital Hill (Kansas City)
Olivia Doucas Research Psychiatric Center (Kansas City)
Michele Fields Four County Mental Health Center (Independence)
Chelsea Fluker Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
Leah Friesen University of Kansas Medical Center Alzheimer’s Disease Center (KC)
Chasity Gaultney DCCCA (Lawrence)
Kristin George Atchison Community Health Clinic (Atchison)
Amanda Graham Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinic (Pittsburg)
Brandi Harris Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg)
Linda Her Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center (Iola)
Jordyn Hudson Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
Avery Johnson Compass Behavioral Health (Garden City)
Kimberly Johnson Satori Counseling Services (Lawrence)
Kim Keating Pawnee Mental Health Center - Crisis (Manhattan)
Kelsey Klema Blue Valley Schools (Overland Park)
TJ Lakin Four County Mental Health Center (Parsons)
Talita Leikam Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
Ivette Martinez Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
Auriana McConnell Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health (Kansas City)
Rachel Parrish KVC Residential Hospital for Children (Kansas City)
Misty Phillips Osawatomie State Hospital (Osawatomie)
Melissa Jones Ramig Goodland Medical Center (Goodland)
Jonathan Ruiz Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center (Kansas City)
Zoey Sallaz Johnson County Mental Health - Addiction & Crisis (Kansas City)
Chelsi Scott Access Family Care (Joplin)
Mikayla Sova Rediscover (Kansas City)
Angela Swetnam Foster/Adopt Connect (Lenexa)
Emma Unsderfer Children’s Mercy/Blue Valley School District (Kansas City)
Bailey Wilson Headquarters Counseling Center (Lawrence)
Ariane Wright University of Kansas Health System-Case Management (Kansas City)
Amber Young University of Kansas Medical Center Primary Care (Kansas City)
Paola Alor - Olathe Medical Center Oncology
Angela Beims - Salina Family Health Care
Allyson Bence - Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Frontenac schools)
Jama Bettis - Lawrence Memorial Hospital Case Management
Anneliese Beye - Tri-County Special Education Interlocal #607 (Independence)
Jasmine Brown - Satori Counseling Services (Lawrence)
Kayla Cosby - Ozark Center New Direction Residential Facility (Joplin)
Alyssa Deem - Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg schools)
Philip DeGraffenreid - Health Partnership Clinic (Olathe)
Jareth Del Real - Osawatomie State Hospital
Mickey Dick - Visiting Nurses Association (Lawrence)
Alisha Dinges - Kelly Center, Fort Hays State University
Mary Hurchins - Joplin Avalon Hospice
Julianne Jackson - University of Kansas Health Systems Case Management
Tykeisha Kelly - KVC Residential Hospital for Children (Kansas City)
Shelby Lines - Sam Rodgers Health Clinic (Kansas City)
Isabella Meisel - Children's Mercy (Kansas City)
Stefany Ortiz - HealthCore (Wichita)
Viviana Patino - KVC Residential Hospital for Children (Kansas City)
Kristin Quangvan - Saint Luke's Primary Care (Smithville)
Elizabeth Reid - Vibrant Health (Kansas City)
Viridiana Reyes Coria - Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness (Emporia)
Raven Rhoads - St Joseph School District
Jordan Rollins - Ozark Center Community Care Program (Joplin)
Kelsey Savastano - University of Kansas Medical Center Acute Rehab
Katherine Schneider - Mirror- KCK Residential
Desire Seitz - Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg clinic)
Kelsey Smith - University of Kansas Medical Center Primary Care (Kansas City)
Publications & Presentations
Levy, M. & Boyd, C. Grow your own: Educating social workers in rural and frontier areas to address the behavioral health workforce crisis. Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal.
Robertson, A. D., Crowl, A. N., Matejkowski, J., Levy, M., Boyd, C., Barnes, J., & S Shrader. (2021). Use of a warm handoff interprofessional simulation to model asynchronous and patient-centered teamwork. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 22(1000410).
Levy, M. (2020, Sept 4). Providing behavioral health care in rural communities and with rural populations. Invtied presenter, Psychology Didactic, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
Acquavita, S., Lee, B., Levy, M., Holmes, C., Sacco, P. & Harley, D. (2020). Preparing Master of Social Work students for interprofessional practice. Journal of Evidence-based Social Work, 17(5), 611-623.
Crowl, A., Wellner, Z., Levy, M., Boyd, C., Bates, J., Barnes, J., & Shrader, S. (2020). Determining the impact of an interprofessional simulation focused on social determinants of health with pharmacy students. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning, 13(7).
Levy, M., Boyd, C. & Carr, K. (2019, Oct). Interprofessional education and social work: Preparing students and promoting the profession. Council on Social Work Education 65th Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
Levy, M., Johnston, K., Randolph, S., Boyd, C. & Shrader, S. (2019, Sept). It takes a village: Growing a pipeline through innovation and collaboration. Invited presentation/panelist. 3RNet National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network, 2019 Annual Conference, Wichita KS.
Levy, M. (2019, April). Integrated Health Scholars Program. Navigating Rural Health Resources Webinar, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Primary Care and Rural Health.
Lee, B., Aquavita, S., & Levy, M. (2018). Preparing MSW students for interprofessional practice: Three programs share lessons learned. Council on Social Work Education 64th Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Wellner, Z., Crowl, A., Levy, M., Boyd, C., Bates, J., Barnes, J. & Shrader, S. (2018, November). Determining the impact of an interprofessional simulation focused on social determinants of health with pharmacy and social work students. Interprofessional Poster Session at Faculty Academic Day & Interprofessional Preceptor Summit, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
Levy, M. (2018, July). Educating social workers for health care practice. Invited presenter & discussion facilitator, Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, Mo-Kan Chapter, Mid-America Rehabilitation Hospital, Overland Park, Kansas.
Levy, M. (2018, April). Examining social determinants of health from rural and urban community perspectives. Invited presenter & panelist, Kansas Center for Cultural Competency Advancement, Webinar.
Holmes, C., Levy, M., & Boyd, C. (2017, August). Exploring social work preparation for integrated behavioral health care. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
Hunter, E., Renick, E., Paolo, T., Levy, M., Holmes, C., Matejkowski, J. (2017, November). An interprofessional collaboration between clinical psychology and clinical social work training programs that focuses on preparing students for practice and service to rural and urban underserved populations. Faculty Academic Day & Interprofessional Preceptor Summit, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
Levy, M., Holmes, C., & Boyd, C. (2017, September). Preparing the behavioral health workforce for integrated care in rural communities. Invited presenter at 2017 HRSA Virtual Behavioral Health Conference.
Levy, M., Holmes, C., & Boyd, C. (2017, March). Preparing master’s level social work graduates for integrated behavioral health. (2017, March). Invited plenary session, Sunflower Foundation Integrated Care Learning Collaborative, Topeka, KS.
Levy, M. & Holmes, C. (2016, December). Preparing social work students for interprofessional practice in integrated health care. Academic Day Interprofessional Poster Session, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
