About Us
The Center for Rural Behavioral Health empowers collaboration across Minnesota State University, Mankato and with our community partners.
Currently, Minnesota State Mankato has five programs that prepare behavioral healthcare professionals:
- Social Work
- Alcohol and Drug Studies
- Nursing
- Counseling and Student Personnel
- School Psychology Psy.D Program
The Center, with its mission and objectives, will allow faculty and students of these programs to collaborate on scholarly work, clinical work, and curriculum. Additionally, strategic partners and stakeholders from healthcare, rural/agricultural industry, and government officials can form new partnerships within the work of the Center.
In order to improve the behavioral health of residents in rural Minnesota, the Center for Rural Behavioral Health has identified three objectives:
1. Research
The center is committed to providing a collaborative opportunity for faculty and community partners of a multidisciplinary background to conduct scholarly activity regarding behavioral healthcare and communicating the results to rural communities and beyond.
2. Workforce Development
The Center is committed to increasing the behavioral health workforce by presenting career exploration workshops in rural schools and communities, operating a behavioral health training clinic on campus, and partnering with various organizations to increase the understanding of behavioral health care careers.
Behavioral Health Career Exploration Program
Learn more about our majors that prepare behavioral health professionals
3. Continuing Education and Customized Training
The center is committed to the development of the behavioral health workforce. An emphasis will be placed on developing partnerships with rural communities to increase the understanding of rural culture and educate the behavioral health workforce.
