NJCU Graduate Student Awarded Counseling Fellowship

April 28, 2017
Michael Brown, a master’s student in the clinical mental health counseling program at NJCU, was recently selected for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program-Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC). Brown will receive an $11,000 fellowship to support his education and facilitate his addictions counseling service to underserved minority youth, aged 16-25. The fellowship was made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The goal of the program is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral healthcare outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals. Upon graduation, Brown intends to work with underserved transition-age youth, particularly those who struggle with mental health and addiction issues. He would like to assist those for whom mental health services are lacking and who feel marginalized. This fellowship will allow Brown to attend counseling conferences, establish relationships with other students and practitioners, and learn practices and skills to better serve his target population.