About the Services for Transition Age Youth Fellowship

The principal aim of the APA Minority Fellowship Program in Services for Transition Age Youth is to identify, select and support the training of master's level ethnic minority students whose prior experiences and clearly stated career goals suggest they will make significant contributions to the mental health services needs of ethnic and racial minority transition age youth and their families. By filling a crucial need for mental health service providers, this is directly related to efforts to reduce health disparities among ethnic minorities in the U.S.

The MFP selects individuals with promise and a commitment to careers that address mental health services needs of ethnic minorities. Thus, the APA-MFP has two target populations at the center of its efforts: the members of communities of color in need of mental health services and master's students in psychology and counseling from communities of color.

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questionsopens in new window.

Applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or noncitizen nationals.

• Have a strong commitment to a career in mental health services with youth in communities of color, between the ages of 16 through 25 and their families.

• Be enrolled full-time in a terminal master’s program in psychology that: 

  1. Is housed in the same department as an APA-accredited doctoral program.

  2. Prepares students to be license-eligible practitioners.

  3. Is not accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, not a marriage and family therapy program and is not accredited by The National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. Individuals in these programs may apply for MFP fellowships at other associations.

  4. View APA's list of eligible programsopens in new window.

• Be on track to graduate and/or receive the specialist/certificate portion of your master’s program anytime in 2022 for the Jan. 15, 2021 deadline.

• Be prepared to enter the field as a mental health practitioner immediately upon graduation.

• Sign a letter of commitment attesting that they will work for a period of two years in a capacity that addresses the behavioral health needs of communities of color.

• It is not required for applicants to come from communities of color; however, African-Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.

Annual January 15 deadline. To apply for this fellowship, please see Services for Transition Age Youth Fellowshipopens in new window for instructions.