SAMHSA Minority Fellowship

Funded by SAMHSA

Supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship provides a one-year fellowship to psychiatry residents who are at the PG1 level or higher and are committed to addressing minority psychiatric mental health issues. If you are interested in becoming a leader and are committed to a career providing culturally sensitive psychiatric services for minority underserved populations, we invite you to apply. MFP

Call for applications for FY 2022-2023 are open November 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022

Program Benefits

• Receive federal funds of $25,000 to develop and execute innovative projects that you could not otherwise carry out in your residency program to alleviate mental health disparities for underserved communities. For the avoidance of doubt, innovative projects do not include research projects already being conducted or funded by your institution.
• Attend the APA Annual Meeting, APA September Component Meeting, and other educational events, including orientation sessions
• Develop leadership skills in the field of psychiatry and advance understanding of the life experiences of racial/ethnic minority communities
• Participate in workshop presentations at APA meetinfs and attend training opportunities that develop psychiatry leaders with an interest in improving the quality of mental health care for diverse and underserved populations
• Receive mentorship from APA/APAF leaders and networking events
• Gain understanding of APA/APAF Governance through service on an APA Council or work group
• Have the opportunity to sit on the APA Board of Trustees as a non-voting member (one SAMHSA or Diversity Leadership fellow allowed)
• Receive access to a lifetime network of a professional association with psychiatrists interested in minority mental health and services
• Establish relationships and peer-mentorship with a diverse group of resident fellows with similar career interests and goals

SAMHSA Expectations

• Work to improve mental health conditions of ethnic or racial minorities
• Assist SAMHSA in maintaining program funding
• Strengthen your professional foundation
• Give back
• Help SAMHSA promote the Minority Fellowship Program
• Participate in the MFP community of learning
• Complete ALL surveys administered by SAMHSA and your sponsoring fellowship organization (APA/APAF)

Program Expectations

• Properly use funding in accordance with the guidelines administered by SAMHSA
• Be in good standing in one's residency program throughout the fellowship
• Attend the APA Annual Meeting and all fellowship-related activities
• Contribute to the work of an APA Council or APA/APAF leadership group (in-person meetings, conference calls, email discussions and work groups)
• Participate in orientation sessions and required training
• Join a minimum of 75% of regular fellowship teleconference meetings
• Prepare a mid-year and year-end evaluations with the Fellowships team
• Prepare a mid-year and year-end report outlining use of funds and fellowship experiences
• Complete all evaluations including Pre-Fellowship Survey, Biannual (mid-year and year-end) Surveys, Post-Fellowship Two-Year Commitment Survey.
• Respond to a yearly short survey on the two-year commitment for the two years after the fellowship ends.
• Contribute items for e-newsletters and/or submit a post to the APA blog

Number of Awards

Up to 30 per year, pending funding

Duration

One year

Program Term

October, 1 2022 – September 30, 2023

Eligibility at the Time of Matriculation

• Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or noncitizen nationals
• PGY-1 level or higher at the time of matriculation
• Remain in training during the entire duration of the fellowship
• Have a strong commitment to a career in mental health services with ethnic minorities or policy. If selected for the fellowship, you must sign a letter of commitment attesting that you will work for a period of two years after the fellowship in a capacity that addresses the behavioral health needs of racial and ethnic minority populations.
• It is not required for applicants to identify as ethnic minorities; however, African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply.

You can apply for as many APA/APAF Fellowships during an application cycle based on your eligibility. However, participation in more than one APA fellowship simultaneously is not permitted.

Project Eligibility

Your SAMHA project must:

• Be original and innovative (not an existing project at your institution) and include one of the following:
  • Improve the quality of mental and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services for racial and ethnic minority populations
  • Increase the number of culturally sensitive behavioral health professionals

Application Requirements

• Completed online application form
• Curriculum vitae
• One-page personal statement explaining how the fellowship will impact the applicant's career
• Three (3) letters of recommendation from psychiatrists, including one (1) letter from Training Director addressing your contribution to minority and underserved populations
• One-page SAMHSA project plan describing how funds will be used and how they will support the mission of the Fellowship
• Proposed budget plan (Please budget up to $25,000 minimum)
• View the guidelines for reference letters and proposed budget plans

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will be looking for the following competencies in applicants:

• Excellence of the candidate's CV (leadership, creativity, clinical skills, extra-curricular activities, publications/presentations)
• Strong letters of recommendation (training director's evaluation, other references)
• Compelling personal statement
• Project originality and potential impact on minority/underrepresented groups.

Application Deadline

The 2022 application cycle will open on November 1, 2021.

Award Notification

March 2022

Disclaimer

• The APA/APAF SAMHSA Minority Fellows (subject to the availability of funds) receive fellowship funds and serve for one year. Extension is not guranteed.
• Fellowship awards are subject to future funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Contact

American Psychiatric Association Foundation
c/o Fellowships Team

Email: SAMHSAfellowship@psych.org