FAQ About the Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
About the Predoctoral Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS) Program
Funded by a grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the MFP has created the Predoctoral MHSAS fellowship to support the training of practitioners in behavioral health services and prevention.This fellowship program is designed for students in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, and other psychology doctoral students whose training prepares them for careers in behavioral health services.
MHSAS Policy Fellowship: Applicants who have experience or an interest in behavioral health policy may request to be considered for the Policy Fellowship on the online application. Fellows in this track will have an opportunity for a paid summer internship at SAMHSA. Refer to the application instructions for more information.
Basic Eligibility
U.S. citizen or permanent resident or non-citizen nationals are eligible
Strong commitment to a career in ethnic minority behavioral health services or policy
Enrolled full-time in an APA-accredited doctoral program for the fall term immediately following the application deadline
No fellowship support is available during a student's internship year
African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.
MFP Benefits
Financial Support - 3 years maximum; must be renewed annually; not available during internship
Travel support to the APA Convention
Potential dissertation support (limited availability)
Ancillary training opportunities and enrichment experiences
Access to information and resources
Lifetime network of professional association with psychologists focused on ethnic minority behavioral health issues
Frequently Asked Questions about the MHSAS Predoctoral Fellowship
Q: May I apply to more than one MFP fellowship?
A: No. You may apply to only one MFP fellowship.
Q: Do I have to be an ethnic minority to apply for the fellowship?
A: No, you can apply as long as you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Q: Do I need to have successfully completed my bachelor’s degree to apply?
A: As long as you are applying to a doctoral program, you are eligible for this fellowship.
Q: If my program is not APA-accredited, can I still apply for the Fellowship?
A: Yes. However, it may make you less competitive.
Q: I do not have an advisor. Can I still apply and if so, who should fill out my Advisor recommendation form and letter?
A: If you do not have an advisor because you are not yet enrolled in a program or because your doctoral program does not require you to have one; you may note this in your application and you may have another faculty member complete your third recommendation.
Q: What are the criteria used to select fellows?
A: There are six criteria:
Commitment to ethnic minority behavioral health services or policy
Knowledge of ethnic minority psychology or behavioral health services issues
Fit between career goals and training environment selected
Potential demonstrated through accomplishments and goals
Scholarship/grades
Letters of recommendation
Q: When are selections announced?
A: The MFP Training Advisory Committee meets in March to review applications. Awards are announced in April. Students awarded fellowships may expect to begin receiving support no earlier than September.
Q: How many fellowships are awarded each year?
A: In recent years, we have received between 200-300 applications and 5-6% of these applicants are awarded Fellowships.
Q: Am I required to specialize in substance abuse?
A: No. However, each fellow must agree to receive some training or exposure to substance abuse treatment, prevention, or research. This training may be in the form of research, courses, workshops, etc.
Q: How much is the stipend?
A: The stipend coming directly from the MFP varies each year. We try to provide financial support of our fellows at a level that is based upon NRSA mandated guidelines. We also request various types of “in-kind” support such as tuition remission, health insurance, research assistantships, etc. from the universities at which students are training. Thus, the overall package of support a student might receive by becoming an MFP fellow is, in part, dependent on the support available from the university.
Q: If I receive support from another federally-funded training grant, may I also accept funding from the MFP?
A: No. Individuals supported by other federal training grants are not eligible for support from the MFP.
Q: What if the funding is from a private foundation, the state, or the university?
A: Please contact our office for guidance. Funding eligibility in these instances must be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Would the funding I receive from my university have a bearing on my eligibility for the fellowship?
A: We encourage universities to provide tuition waivers and to cover health insurance for our fellows. As long as you are not receiving any funds from federal sources, there will not be a conflict with our MHSAS predoctoral fellowship, although we may reduce the amount of the fellowship based on what the university is already covering.
Q: Should I include citations in my essays, and if so, does the list of references count against the page total?
A: Citations are not necessary. If they are included, they do not count toward the page limit.
Q: How long does the fellowship last?
A: Each predoctoral fellow is provided a stipend for up to 3 years. However, stipend support for 3 years is provisional and must be renewed each year. Reappointment is contingent upon the satisfactory academic progress of the fellow and continued support from our federal funding agency. Beyond the 3 years of stipend support, fellows are encouraged to maintain a career-long relationship with the MFP for professional development, guidance, and association.
Q: How do fellows renew their appointments?
A: Each fellow currently receiving a stipend must complete a progress report and return it to the MFP in January. Progress reports are reviewed by the MFP Training Advisory Committee in March and reappointment decisions are announced in April.
