The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates is pleased to announce the 2024 nomination period for the Innovations in Counseling Award. NBCC strives to recognize individuals who exemplify professional excellence in counseling and whose contributions toward expanding access to mental health services, strengthening the profession, and promoting equity in health and education have significantly impacted and advanced counseling and counselors domestically and globally.

Nominations for the Innovations in Counseling Award will be accepted in three subcategories: Research Innovations in Counseling Practice and Counselor Education; Innovation in Counselor Education Community Engagement; and Innovation in Counseling Practice and Clinical Service.

Nominators can submit multiple nominations; however, they must complete a separate application for each nominee.

The deadline for nominations is Oct. 27, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Awardees will be notified by the end of December 2023.

Research Innovations in Counseling Practice and Counselor Education

Qualified nominees are researchers and/or counseling programs or research teams who have engaged in innovative, transformative research recognized by peers, colleagues, or the professional community as having potential for long-range impacts on mental health services, counselor preparation, or clinical practice in spaces where counselors serve.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual.
• Nominators must be an NCC or CCMHC in good standing.
• Nominees must have made significant contributions through transformative research.

Innovation in Counselor Education Community Engagement

A qualified nominee is a counselor education program that integrates community engagement throughout the curriculum (e.g., service learning, action or program evaluation research for community partners, student projects with community engagement) with evidence of reciprocity and accountability.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual.
• Nominees must be a CACREP-accredited counselor education program.
• Nominees must have robust integration of community engagement opportunities with the best candidates evidencing community engagement integration in classes, course assignments, research, and faculty scholarship.

Innovation in Counseling Practice and Clinical Service

Qualified nominees are counselors who initiated innovative services that improved their clients’ lives in meaningful ways and/or strengthen or expand counselors’ capacity to provide impactful services to clients. Nominees can have provided innovative services for their own clients or services that have been replicated and have transformed clinical practice for the profession.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators cannot self-nominate.
• Nominees must be an NCC or CCMHC in good standing.
• Nominees must have made service contributions to the counseling profession for 5 or more years.

The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates is pleased to announce the 2024 nomination period for the NBCC Servant Leadership Award. NBCC strives to recognize individuals who exemplify professional excellence in counseling and whose contributions toward expanding access to mental health services, strengthening the profession, and promoting equity in health and education have significantly impacted and advanced counseling and counselors domestically and globally.

Nominees should be members of the professional counseling community who have dedicated their lives to advancing the counseling profession through service. These unsung heroes have invested time, talents, and resources in fostering a strong counseling community by recognizing and valuing the contributions of others; promoting the power of collaboration; encouraging resiliency; and serving others as counselors, mentors, supervisors, and/or leaders.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators must be an NCC or CCMHC in good standing.
• Nominees must be an NCC or CCMHC in good standing.
• Nominees must have made service contributions to the counseling profession for 5 or more years.

Nominators can submit multiple nominations; however, they must complete a separate application for each nominee.

The deadline for nominations is Oct. 27, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Awardees will be notified by the end of December 2023.

The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates is pleased to announce the 2024 nomination period for the Propelling Mental Health, Powering the Future: School Counseling Award. NBCC strives to recognize the work of school counselors who are actively focused on and engaged in promoting youth mental health. Healthy school communities ensure academic and career success for students.

This award focuses on celebrating the efforts of school counselors to address youth mental health and initiate and sustain mental health programming in their school communities.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual.
• Nominees must be an active NCC with no pending ethics complaints (with priority given to applicants holding an active NCSC in good standing).
• Nominees must be a practicing school counselor or have an active partnership with a practicing school counselor and school community.

Nominators can submit multiple nominations; however, they must complete a separate application for each nominee.

The deadline for nominations is Oct. 27, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Awardees will be notified by the end of December 2023.

The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates is pleased to announce the 2024 nomination period for theLeadership Excellence for Counselors by Counselors Award. NBCC strives to recognize individuals who exemplify professional excellence in counseling and whose contributions toward expanding access to mental health services, strengthening the profession, and promoting equity in health and education have significantly impacted and advanced counseling and counselors domestically and globally.

Nominees should be leaders who have ensured that strong standards informed by counselors, intentionally equitable, and appropriately inclusive are in place to ensure key public protections. Individuals may be recognized in any of the following six pillars of sustaining the counseling profession:

• Educational Eligibility Standards
• Ethics
• Examination
• Continuing Education
• Regulatory Service, and/or 
• Legislative Advocacy

Nomination Requirements

• Nominators must be an NCC or CCMHC in good standing.
• Nominees must have made significant and impactful efforts in at least one of the six pillars of sustaining the counseling profession.

Nominators can submit multiple nominations; however, they must complete a separate application for each nominee.

The deadline for nominations is Oct. 27, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Awardees will be notified by the end of December 2023.

The NBCC Foundation (NBCCF) is accepting proposals from individuals interested in presenting at the 2024 Bridging the Gap Symposium: Eliminating Mental Health Disparities, to be held March 15–16, 2024, in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The theme for the Symposium is Empowering Voices and Expanding Access, with an emphasis on counseling skills, research, and resources that advance counseling practices and counselor education to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and promote equitable access to mental health resources.

We welcome applications from presenters who can provide creative and unique presentations that highlight evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant practices or research addressing ways to serve and bridge the gap for underserved communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Category Descriptions: 

1. Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care – Topics that increase awareness of action-oriented and culturally relevant research and application of trauma-informed care for underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).
2. Expanding Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents — Topics that increase awareness of disparities in care and culturally relevant research and clinical practice to expand access and promote optimal mental health for children and adolescents. Focus must be on serving underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).
3. Strengthening the Profession Through Leadership and Advocacy — Topics that increase access and demonstrate the significance of counselor leadership, advocacy, and political engagement for issues that impact underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).
4. Underserved Clients and Societal Institutions — Topics that focus on the empowerment of marginalized voices and enhance access to increased understanding of racism, discrimination, and other societal or systemic barriers to care in educational, governmental, religious, health care, occupational, and other societal institutions. Presentation must increase awareness and understanding of serving underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).
5. Decolonizing the Counseling Profession — Topics that increase awareness of and improve access to culturally relevant strategies and interventions in the research, leadership, and practice of counseling, with a specific focus on unique needs and experiences of underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).
6. Treatment of Substance Use and Addiction in Underserved Communities — Topics that increase awareness of equitable, evidence-based practices and culturally relevant treatment of substance use disorder and addiction in serving underserved clients and communities (including underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military or rural populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals).

Proposal and Policy Guidelines:

Proposals to present must contain and convey sufficient detail to allow NBCCF’s Symposium Planning Committee to understand how the proposed presentation will contribute to the Symposium objectives. Selection is competitive, so you must submit a compelling and complete proposal. 

• Persons presenting at the Symposium are expected to use material and language that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, and/or sexual orientation.
• If your proposal is selected, NBCCF reserves the right, with your consent, to revise presentation titles and/or edit the program summary for promotional and program materials. Please note the word/character limit as described below. NBCCF will adjust bios, titles, descriptions, and objectives that do not meet this requirement.

1. Biography — 2,000 characters
2. Presentation Title — 100 characters
3. Description and Objectives (combined) — 2,000 characters

• NBCCF follows the style guide set forth by NBCC and Affiliates, and any edits necessary to conform with these requirements will be made.
• NBCCF reserves the right to cancel a presentation based on noncompliance at any point. This includes, but is not limited to, failure to register for the Symposium by the due date, failure to return required documents by the due date (e.g., agreement, presentation materials, bios, photos), or failure to make presenter changes by the due date.

No more than two proposals from one speaker will be considered. Please complete a separate application for each proposal.

Presentation Types:

Presentations should be highly interactive, collaborative, and show the application of the outcomes of a research project or share findings on the implementation of effective, evidence-based practices. There are two presentation lengths: 90 minutes and 60 minutes.

• 90-minute Workshop Presentation: The 90-minute education sessions follow a standard workshop format consisting of a presentation and brief Q&A session.
• 60-minute Workshop Presentation: The 60-minute education sessions follow a standard workshop format consisting of a presentation and brief Q&A session.

Presenter Benefits Provided by NBCCF:

• Presenters (including co-presenters) receive a complimentary Symposium registration, including admission to the pre-Symposium events, presentations, and networking events as applicable.
• Presenters will receive a copy of their attendees’ evaluation report summary with presentation ratings and feedback after the Symposium.
• NBCCF does not pay an honorarium or expenses for presenting at the Symposium, but we hope that the benefits of being a part of our programming and sharing expertise with an emerging group of mental health counselors make the effort worthwhile for presenters.

Call for Presenter Proposal Evaluation:

Proposals are evaluated objectively with consideration of the following criteria: 

• degree to which the proposed presentation meets the Symposium/program objectives
• presenter’s presentation skills and experience
• desirability of the topic
• clarity of learning objectives
• overall clarity of proposal

Evaluation timeline/schedule: 

• Sept. 1–Oct. 31, 2023: Application period open.
• Nov. 1–Dec. 2, 2023: Proposals reviewed.
• Dec. 15, 2023: Presenters notified if proposal has been accepted.

Other Speaker Requirements: 

• Acknowledge availability to speak during any time frame of the event and do not request a change to the presentation time frame assigned, if selected.
• Work closely with event programming department and meet all deadlines.
• Design and provide high-quality PowerPoint, Prezi, or other similar presentation in electronic format by the deadline.
• Recognize that a presentation is an opportunity to share information and is not a showcase for promotion of business, practice, service, or product.
• Acknowledge that although this event is being planned as an in-person event, circumstances may require the event to be delivered in a virtual format. Please take this into consideration when answering the question(s) related to adapting your presentation to a virtual format.

2024 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (Master’s)

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 application period for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC). This program is made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation in collaboration with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program will administer up to 40 master’s degree-level counseling fellowships of $15,000 for addictions counseling students, plus the travel expenses to participate in other program-related trainings.

The NBCC MFP helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. Minorities include but are not limited to racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rural, or military groups. By strategically promoting and providing fellowships to master’s-level counseling students, the NBCC MFP strengthens the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of substance use disorder professional counselors who provide direct substance use disorder services minority populations.

Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience in addictions/substance abuse services to one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families.  

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status. 
• Applicants must not already possess a master’s degree in a behavioral health field.
• Applicants must not receive any other federal funds (except for federal loans or work-study).  
• Applicants must have completed one semester in a counseling program and be currently enrolled and in good standing in one of the following programs at the time of application. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework.

1. A Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions.
2. A regionally accredited master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions.
3. An addictions program accredited by the National Addictions Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC). 

• Applicants must commit to obtaining an addictions counseling credential, as evidenced by showing proof of applying for a state addictions certification before the end of the fellowship year. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain an addictions counseling credential prior to applying for the fellowship. 
• Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2027 (within three years of the date of the fellowship funding). 
• Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated academic program completion date before Dec. 31, 2024, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds. 
• Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with addressing the substance use disorder needs of one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families.
• Applicants must commit to providing substance use disorder services to one of the above-named populations within one year of graduation and must commit to providing such services for the duration of two years post-graduation. 
• Applicants must commit to securing a substance use services-related internship that provides experience with one or more of the minority populations listed above. 
• Applicants must commit to becoming board certified by applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification or applying for certification from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) prior to graduation and to completing the application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain these certifications prior to applying for the fellowship. 
• Applicants must be able to attend the 2024 NBCC Foundation’s Bridging the Gap Symposium to open their fellowship year during the week of March 13–17, 2024, and to close their fellowship year at the 2025 Symposium (date TBD), and the NAADAC Annual Conference, typically held in October. 
• African Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.*

To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. To check the NASAC status of a program, search the NASAC website. 

NOTE: Applicants are strongly advised to verify their eligibility for the NCC or NCC AP prior to applying. Requirements of the NCC certification can be found on NBCC’s website at nbcc.org/Certification/NCC. Requirements of the NCC AP certification can be found on NAADAC’s website at naadac.org/types-eligibility.

The application opens Aug. 1, 2023, and the deadline is Oct. 21, 2023 at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Fellowship awardees will be announced by the end of Dec. 2023.

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If after reviewing our FAQ document you still have questions, please email Foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376.

*Eligibility requirements for MFP awards are defined by SAMHSA. The program is not limited to individuals from minority populations; however, SAMHSA does prioritize individuals from the following communities: African American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. SAMHSA’s priority population decision is based on the documentation of significant mental health disparities within these communities and the SAMHSA-identified strategy of increasing the number of individuals representing these communities in counselor education and leadership. This priority is considered when there are applicants with equivalently strong results to the review process. In that case, those applicants who meet the SAMHSA priority are chosen.

2024 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Doctoral)

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 application period for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP) for Mental Health Counselors (MHC-D). This program is made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The NBCC Foundation will administer up to 20 doctoral-level counseling fellowships of $20,000, plus the travel expenses to participate in program-related trainings.

The NBCC MFP helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. Minorities include but are not limited to racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rural, or military groups. By strategically promoting and providing fellowships to doctoral counseling students, the NBCC MFP strengthens the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of professional counselors.

Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families. Eligible applicants must commit to teach, administer services, conduct research, and/or provide direct mental health counseling to at least one of the above-listed populations.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status.
• Applicants must not already possess a doctoral degree in a behavioral health field. 
• Applicants must not receive any other federal funds (except for federal loans, work-study, or employment). 
• Applicants must currently be board certified by holding the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. If the applicant is not currently board certified, they must document all the following:

1. A full state license as a professional counselor.
2. A passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
3. A commitment to apply for the NCC credential and to complete the application within the shortest possible timeframe after notification of the MFP award. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain this certification prior to applying for the fellowship. 

• Applicants must have completed one semester in a doctoral-level counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
• Applicants must be currently enrolled full time and be in good standing in a CACREP-accredited doctoral-level counseling program. Applicants must be currently taking courses at the time of application. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework. 
• Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2027 (within three years of the date of the fellowship funding). 
• Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated academic program completion date before Dec. 31, 2024, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds. 
• Applicants must have demonstrated knowledge and experience with underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families.
• Applicants must commit to teach, administer, research and/or provide direct mental health services to minority and underserved populations in the private, nonprofit, or public sectors within one year of graduation and for the duration of two years post-graduation. 
• Applicants must be able to attend the 2024 NBCC Foundation’s Bridging the Gap Symposium to open their fellowship year the week of March 13 – 17, 2024, and to close their fellowship year at the 2025 Symposium (date TBD), and up to one other training event during their fellowship year. 
• Applicants must be able to attend the SACES Conference Nov. 7-9, 2024.  
• African Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.* 

   To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. 

NOTE: Applicants who are not already NBCC board certified counselors are strongly advised to verify their eligibility for the NCC prior to applying. Requirements of the NCC certification can be found on NBCC’s website at nbcc.org/Certification/NCC.

The application opens Aug. 1, 2023, and the deadline is Oct. 21, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Fellowship awardees will be announced by the end of Dec. 2023.

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If after reviewing our FAQ document you still have questions, please email Foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376.

Eligibility requirements for MFP awards are defined by SAMHSA. The program is not limited to individuals from minority populations; however, SAMHSA does prioritize individuals from the following communities: African American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. SAMHSA’s priority population decision is based on the documentation of significant mental health disparities within these communities and the SAMHSA-identified strategy of increasing the number of individuals representing these communities in counselor education and leadership. This priority is considered when there are applicants with equivalently strong results to the review process. In that case, those applicants who meet the SAMHSA priority are chosen. 

2024 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Master's)

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 application period for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP) for Mental Health Counselors (MHC-M). This program is made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The NBCC Foundation will administer up to 30 master’s-level counseling fellowships of $10,000, plus the travel expenses to participate in program-related trainings for mental health counseling students.

The NBCC MFP helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. Minorities include but are not limited to racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rural, or military groups. By strategically promoting and providing fellowships to master’s-level counseling students, the NBCC MFP strengthens the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of professional counselors.

Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with one or more of the following: underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families. Eligible applicants must commit to teach, administer services, conduct research, and/or provide direct mental health counseling to at least one of the above-listed populations.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status. 
• Applicants must not already possess a master’s degree in a behavioral health field.  
• Applicants must not receive any other federal funds (except for federal loans, work-study, or employment).   
• Applicants must have completed one semester in a master’s-level counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
• Applicants must be currently enrolled full time and be in good standing in a CACREP-accredited master’s-level counseling program. Applicants must be currently taking courses. Applicants may not have a pending status, deferred status, or other future start date for coursework. 
• Applicants are expected to graduate by May 31, 2027 (within three years of the date of the fellowship funding). 
• Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated program completion date before Dec. 31, 2024, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds. 
• Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with underserved minority communities, child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minority communities in inner cities and rural areas, minority persons (including LGBTQIA2S+), or those who are veterans or are from military families. 
• Applicants must commit to teach, administer services, conduct research, and/or provide direct mental health counseling to at least one of the above-listed populations within one year of graduation and for the duration of two years post-graduation.  
• Applicants must commit to securing an internship that includes experience with one of more of the minority populations listed above.
• Applicants must commit to becoming board certified by applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification prior to graduation and completing the application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain this certification prior to applying for the fellowship.  
• Applicants must be able to attend the NBCC Foundation’s Bridging the Gap Symposium to open their fellowship year the week of March 13 – 17, 2024, and to close their fellowship year at the 2025 Symposium (date TBD), and up to one additional training event during their fellowship year. 
• African Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.* 

   To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website.

NOTE: Applicants are strongly advised to verify their eligibility for the NCC prior to applying. Requirements of the NCC certification can be found on NBCC’s website at nbcc.org/Certification/NCC.

The application opens Aug. 1, 2023, and the deadline is Oct. 21, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Fellowship awardees will be announced by the end of Dec. 2023.

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If after reviewing our FAQ document you still have questions, please email Foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376.

*Eligibility requirements for MFP awards are defined by SAMHSA. The program is not limited to individuals from minority populations; however, SAMHSA does prioritize individuals from the following communities: African American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. SAMHSA’s priority population decision is based on the documentation of significant mental health disparities within these communities and the SAMHSA-identified strategy of increasing the number of individuals representing these communities in counselor education and leadership. This priority is considered when there are applicants with equivalently strong results to the review process. In that case, those applicants who meet the SAMHSA priority are chosen. 

The NBCC Foundation is pleased to announce the search for NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP) Advisory Council members to fill positions on mental health counseling and addictions counseling advisory councils for the 2023–2024 term. The NBCC MFP, made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. Populations served include but are not limited to those who are underserved and underrepresented because of their race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation and those underserved who live in rural locations or are affiliated with a military population (active servicemembers and their families or veterans).

Each MFP Advisory Council (MFPAC) will consist of members willing to promote and support the mission of the NBCC MFP. Advisory Council members are elected to serve a 1-year term (Oct. 2023–Sept. 2024) and may be elected for a second 1-year term. Some domestic travel will be necessary.

Mental Health Counseling (MHC) Advisory Council
Eligibility Requirements: 

• Candidates must be either (1) a doctoral-level professional counselor or counselor educator or (2) a master’s-level clinical professional counselor.
• Candidates must be a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in good standing.
• Candidates must demonstrate senior and expert experience providing mental health services to underserved and underrepresented populations.
• Candidates must be alumni of the NBCC MFP.
• Candidates must have completed the fellowship program two years prior to applying to serve as an Advisory Council Member.

Addictions Counseling (AC) Advisory Council. This program is administered by the NBCC Foundation in collaboration with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.
Eligibility Requirements: 

• Candidates must be either (1) a doctoral-level professional counselor or counselor educator or (2) a master’s-level clinical professional counselor.
• Candidates must be nationally certified counselors (NCC or NCC AP) in good standing.
• Candidates must demonstrate senior and expert experience providing mental health and substance abuse services to underserved and underrepresented populations.
• Alumni of the NBCC MFP are encouraged to apply.
• NBCC MFP alumni must have completed the fellowship program two years prior to applying to serve as an Advisory Council Member.

NBCC MFP Advisory Council Key Responsibilities: 

• Makes recommendations to NBCC Foundation staff regarding the selection criteria for the fellowships.
• Selects MFP fellows from a list of finalists.
• Makes recommendations to staff on policies and procedures for administering the program.
• Supports the fellows through regular group check-ins.
• Provides support and guidance to fellows and mentors during the mentorship process.
• Provides education and leadership to the counseling profession.
• Participates in monitoring fellowship recipients to support adherence to their individual fellowship plans and to the program.
• Assists the NBCC Foundation staff with developing and providing training for the fellows either virtually through webinars, or through in-person training events and panel discussions.

Individuals who are of Native American, African American, Hispanic/Latina/Latino, Asian, and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent, individuals who represent LGBTQIA2S+ populations, and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Former MFPAC members may apply to begin a new term of service on the 2023–2024 Advisory Council.

Interested NCCs who are MFP alumni must submit a résumé/CV and letter of interest. Letters of interest should describe experience working with and providing mental health services to underserved populations (including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, children, veterans, the elderly, military populations, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals). Cultural competency and strong skills in networking, public relations, presentation, communication, goal setting, and task management are also required and should be evident on the résumé/CV and in the letter of interest. Letters should also describe an understanding of the NBCC MFP program and how the applicant will contribute to the leadership of the program.

Time Commitments: The MFPAC meets at least four times annually to conduct business. At least one meeting takes place in-person and other meetings typically take place through virtual means. All expenses involved in NBCC MFP Advisory Council travel are reimbursed according to grant allowances. Each term is for one year with the option to serve an additional year. MFPAC members will engage in an online training program prior to beginning their term.

Candidates must have the ability to navigate virtual teleconferencing software and be able to make the time commitment to attend to MFPAC responsibilities.

Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2023, at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time.