Virginia is experiencing mental health staffing shortages that are anticipated to worsen. More providers are expected to retire over the next several years than there are graduates to replace them.
To help expedite licensure, the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI) matches volunteer pre-licensed mental health providers (pre-LMHPs) with supervisors to achieve needed client contact hours while providing pro-bono support to free and charitable clinics – a win-win-win for patients, providers-in-training, and clinics! In addition, a robust curriculum of virtual training and educational resources regarding telehealth will be available at no cost to help prepare Virginia’s future providers to be best equipped to serve the needs of Virginians.
Apply to Participate in VTMHI as a Pre-LMHP Volunteer
VTMHI is now accepting applications for pre-licensed social workers, pre-licensed marriage and family therapists, and residents in counseling to participate in the program as more free and charitable clinics join VTMHI during spring 2023.
The application will take approximately 15 minutes. Questions will collect information about applicant demographics, education, training, work history, license number, number of supervision hours completed, language fluency, clinical interests, and more. Detailed questions in the application will help to ensure we can make the best supervisor, clinic and patient matches for each volunteer. As part of the selection process, VTMHI will conduct a background and NPDB check.
To preview the application, click here.
What to Expect
All applications submitted will be reviewed by VTMHI clinical supervisors and staff. Eligible volunteers will be contacted for a virtual interview and those selected will need to complete VTMHI onboarding procedures and will then be assigned to a participating free or charitable clinic. If you are not selected to participate this spring, please be sure you are registered to receive regular updates about this program here as there will be many more opportunities to apply and participate as this program develops.
If you have any questions about the application, process and timeline, please contact ellen@ehealthvirignia.org.
Pre-LMHP Resources
For more information about serving as a VTMHI volunteer and qualifications to be eligible to participate, download the job description here.
In case you missed it, here’s what you need to know about the VTMHI program.