Florida State University's Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (Stoops CFC), housed in the College of Social Work, was awarded a $2 million multiyear federal grant to address the urgent mental health crisis facing children and families in Florida's Panhandle.
The initiative expands access to early intervention services while simultaneously building a sustainable workforce pipeline, strengthening community well-being and employment opportunities in Leon County and surrounding areas.
"FSU's commitment to research-driven, community-engaged solutions is reflected in the Stoops CFC's efforts to expand access to early intervention services and build a sustainable behavioral health workforce. By expanding and strengthening the workforce, we are addressing pressing community challenges while shaping national practice and policy."
- David Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work
"FSU's commitment to research-driven, community-engaged solutions is reflected in the Stoops CFC's efforts to expand access to early intervention services and build a sustainable behavioral health workforce," reflected David Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work and a co-principal investigator on the project. "By expanding and strengthening the workforce, we are addressing pressing community challenges while shaping national practice and policy."
Led by Tai Cole, principal investigator and associate director of Stoops CFC, the initiative comes at a critical juncture for the region. Youth suicide rates in Northwest Florida remain among the highest in the state and some school districts report student-to-counselor ratios exceeding 1,000 to 1 - four times the nationally recommended standard.
Workforce Development and Apprenticeships
A central focus of the initiative is the Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training Level 1 and Level 2 Program with $1million being dedicated to stipends for apprenticeships, ensuring participants are compensated while gaining field-based experience. The program will recruit high school seniors, General Educational Development completers and recent university graduates to prepare and train them to serve as Certified Behavioral Health Technicians. Trainees receive trauma-informed care instruction, simulation-based crisis response practice and structured mentorship.
"This program provides meaningful career pathways for young adults while simultaneously expanding urgently needed school-based and community behavioral health supports," said Ellen Piekalkiewicz, director of Stoops CFC and a co-principal investigator. "It is an investment, both in our workforce, and in the resilience of our families and communities."
This initiative aligns with and builds on the interdisciplinary strength of FSU Health, which integrates the university's health-focused projects and programs and works closely with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) to expand clinical, training and research opportunities across the region.
"This program provides meaningful career pathways for young adults while simultaneously expanding urgently needed school-based and community behavioral health supports. It is an investment, both in our workforce, and in the resilience of our families and communities."
- Ellen Piekalkiewicz, director of Stoops CFC
As part of its broader strategy, FSU Health and TMH are also partnering to establish a new academic health center and teaching hospital in Panama City. This infrastructure expansion not only enhances access to care but creates new sites for clinical education, aligning directly with the apprenticeship model of the Stoops CFC grant initiative.
By embedding behavioral health workforce development within the broader FSU Health framework, the initiative ensures that paraprofessional trainees are connected to a continuum of educational and professional pathway, from entry-level apprenticeships to advanced clinical training. This integrated model strengthens the long-term sustainability of the workforce pipeline across North Florida.
The initiative also draws on collaboration between the College of Social Work and Anne's College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, particularly the School of Teacher Education, to provide rigorous, evidence-based instruction. Local school systems, including Leon County Schools, and community partners such as DISC Village, Bay Area Youth Services (BAYS) and the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, will host apprenticeships and provide direct service opportunities.
"This grant not only expands access to mental health services for our students but also creates new employment pathways for young people in Leon County and throughout the Panhandle," said Rocky Hanna, superintendent of Leon County Schools. "It is a win-win for families, schools and the regional workforce."
By its fourth year, the program is projected to train and place at least 200 behavioral health paraprofessionals across the Panhandle. Outcomes are projected to include increased access to timely support for students, expanded resources for families and a strengthened behavioral health system across North Florida.
The Stoops CFC, recognized for its leadership of the Rebound and Recovery program and SAMHSA's Southeast Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center, is uniquely positioned to lead this initiative. By leveraging its expertise in workforce development, community partnerships, and now aligning with FSU Health's regional clinical expansion, the center will continue advancing Florida State University's mission to expand access to behavioral health care, particularly in underserved rural and coastal communities.
