Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Collaborative

The Challenge
The Solution
Program Goals
Program at a Glance
Get Involved
Participating Sites
Why It Matters
Contact Us

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The Challenge

Over 50 million people in the U.S. — about 1 in 7 — experience mental illness, yet there is only 1 mental health provider for every 350 individuals. In Colorado, this shortage is especially severe, with twice as many vacant mental health jobs compared to similar-sized regions.

Despite earning advanced degrees, 57% of master’s-level graduates never achieve licensure due to financial, regulatory, and time barriers, disproportionately impacting underrepresented groups.

The Solution

The Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Collaborative

In collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at MSU Denver, this program bridges the gap between degrees and licensure by providing:

Salary stipends and supervision for clinical licensure.
Access to study resources, licensure application reimbursement, and monthly group supervision.
Clinical roles in community settings, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations.

By reducing barriers, we will increase the number of fully licensed professionals while diversifying the workforce to reflect the communities they serve.

Program Goals

Increase percentage of master’s degree graduates who become licensed in the state of Colorado
Increase number of patients served by partially qualified pre and post master’s candidates.
Increase diversity (e.g., race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language, geographic and cultural) of fully licensed master’s level mental health professionals in the state of Colorado
Improve Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) health professional shortage area scores in identified target communities.

Program at a Glance

Timeline: May 2024 – September 2025.
Reach: 87 candidates, 36 fellows, 21 participating sites, 6 universities.
Current Fellows: 15 finishing their final year of their graduate program.
Current Candidates: 58 post graduate candidates working to achieve licensure.

"I am very fortunate to be a part of the NMHWAC program. After graduating with my MSW, I found it challenging to navigate the licensing process in Colorado. Thanks to this program, I was connected to resources that not only ensured my success in obtaining my license but also provided important trainings fostering my professional development. A big thank you to the organizers of this program, who make it their business to break licensure barriers for mental health professionals across the board."

Florence Onabolu

Cohort 3 Candidate and Behavioral Health Provider at STRIDE Community Health Center

“As a non-profit healthcare organization serving the most vulnerable individuals in our community, Health Solutions confronts the impacts of the workforce shortage on a daily basis. Participation in the National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative has been an exceptional opportunity for us; in addition to financial support for candidate salaries, our candidates receive the type of high quality, targeted support that every new clinical professional needs and deserves as they navigate the complexity of entering this field and progressing toward licensure. Our organization is dedicated to innovation in how we care for our staff and clients alike and we are grateful to the National Council for the opportunity to participate in this exceptional program.”

Katie Ledbetter

Vice President of Outpatient Services at Health Solutions

Get Involved

Candidates: Our next Post-Master’s Cohort begins in July 2025. Submit an interest form to receive more information when our next recruitment cycle opens.
Fellows: Interested in becoming a fellow? Fill out the interest form!
Sites: Mental health organizations across Colorado can apply to host candidates for Cohort 5 starting in June 2025. Learn more about site requirements or submit an interest form to receive a link to the application as soon as it opens.
Donors: Support future iterations of this program and help sustain its impact. Contact Ally Veneris, [email protected], for more information.

Learn more about site requirements Submit an interest form

Participating Sites

Why It Matters

With rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, the need for licensed mental health providers has never been greater. By addressing financial and systemic barriers, the Colorado Mental Health Workforce Accelerator is building a more equitable, effective, and accessible mental health system for all.

Contact Us for More Information

Email Us

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-615-0029

Office Location:
1027 9th Street
Denver, CO 80204

Mailing Address:
Campus Box 8
P. O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362