Nora Barrett, vice chair and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, has been awarded a five-year, $875,000 undergraduate education in rehabilitation services grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will support tuition scholarships for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees and certificate programs in psychiatric rehabilitation.

Nora Barrett

In return for scholarships, students commit to working in community-based psychiatric rehabilitation settings—two years of service for each year of funding received. This service-based model expands the pipeline of well-prepared practitioners but also ensures that community agencies benefit directly from -trained professionals who are ready to support individuals on their path to recovery.

The grant comes at a critical time. Across New Jersey and nationwide, programs that provide psychiatric rehabilitation services for individuals living with severe mental illness are facing serious workforce shortages and difficulty recruiting qualified entry-level practitioners. By reducing financial barriers to higher education, this grant helps attract more students to the field and prepares them for careers in community mental health.