Behavioral Health Service Corps℠ Bridge Experience
Earned Your Associate’s Degree?
Take a Gap Year in the Mental Health Field
You don't have to choose between real-world experience and education. The Behavioral Health Service Corps Bridge Program is a year-long, paid service opportunity where students can explore career options while earning undergraduate credits. See below for information about our BHSC-Bridge cohort.
MetroWest Foundation Funds BHSC–Bridge Workforce Expansion
Funded by the Framingham Union Grants Panel of the MetroWest Health Foundation, the Behavioral Health Service Corps BHSC-Bridge (also known as “The Bridge Program”), is a new initiative that creates paid career opportunities for graduates of MassBay Community College while strengthening the behavioral health workforce in Framingham and the surrounding MetroWest region.
As part of the College’s strategic commitment to expand access to behavioral health care and build sustainable workforce pipelines, BHSC–Bridge places participants in community-based behavioral health organizations where they gain hands-on experience, professional mentorship, and academic training. Participants complete two bachelor’s-level courses at no cost and earn six transferable college credits, supporting continued education and long-term career advancement in the field.
Through partnerships with MassBay Community College and local service providers, BHSC–Bridge is designed to increase workforce capacity, strengthen culturally responsive care, and improve access to mental health and substance use services for individuals and families in communities facing persistent service gaps.
A $500 sign-on bonus will be awarded to each enrolled student during the fall semester and a $500 retention bonus will be given during the spring semester.
Enroll in two courses at William James College. Courses are designed to complement and enhance the employment experience and the six credits earned during the service year can be applied towards a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Human Services at William James College. Employers allot work release time for BHSC-Bridge Students to participate in coursework, didactic training, and professional development activities.
Up to 12 students will be recruited annually with the support of the BHSC-Bridge academic partner, MassBay Community College. Eligible students will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
- Have earned an associate's degree from MassBay Community College in the past three years (or will complete an associate's degree by the start of the fall semester)
- Be able to work in Framingham, Massachusetts, and/or with organizations that primarily serve the Framingham community.
- Be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
- Pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.
Students who enroll in the BHSC-Bridge Program will:
- Participate in a skills-based orientation training.
- Complete a year-long (i.e., 12 months) full-time or two-year (i.e., 24 months) part-time paid work experience at an approved partner agency in an entry-level position.
- Earn a salary and/or benefits while supporting individuals and groups in historically underserved communities in Framingham, Massachusetts.
- Provide a variety of services to patients, clients, and/or families in settings that include inpatient units, home-based programs, schools, and residential treatment and recovery centers, among others.
- Earn up to six free General Elective college credits taking two virtual bachelor’s-level courses as non-matriculating students at William James College. Note that employer partners will allow release time for coursework and professional development activities.
- Receive group supervision, mentorship, and career counseling support throughout the experiential training.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from WJC, upon successful completion of the program.
$500 Recruitment and Retention Bonuses:
A $500 sign-on bonus will be awarded to each enrolled student during the fall semester
and a $500 retention bonus will be given during the spring semester.
Through partnerships with community-based organizations and employers, the program connects eligible candidates with paid, full-time or part-time roles that provide hands-on experience and exposure to career pathways in human services and behavioral health. The program will collaborate with organizations serving the Framingham community committed to high-quality supervision, learning-oriented environments, and mission-driven work.
Partner agencies include:
- Community mental health agencies
- Primary care and integrated behavioral health agencies
- Nonprofit and community-based human service agencies
- School-based settings
Partner employers will:
- Identify roles suitable for associate-level candidates
- Confirm supervision, training, and feedback processes and structures
- Collaborate with program staff to align placements with community and workforce needs
- Sign a Memorandum of Agreement and submit a W-9 form
Roles that BHSC-Bridge students will fill at partner organizations may include:
- Direct Support Professional (DSP)
- Community Health Worker
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Case Manager
- Residential Counselor
- Peer Support Specialist
Partner Agency Honorarium ($1,000 per Student)
Partner agencies that employ and host BHSC-Bridge students are eligible to receive
a $1,000 annual honorarium per student. Payment will be made in two equal installments,
with one issued in the fall semester and the second in the spring semester.
Students interested in applying for the BHSC-Bridge Program must submit an online application, along with a résumé or CV, one letter of recommendation, and an official transcript from MassBay Community College.
The recruitment period opens in February 2026, with a general deadline of Thursday, April 30, 2026. Rolling applications will be accepted after this date.
Completed applications will be reviewed by program staff. Eligible candidates will be invited to an initial Zoom interview with program staff. Qualified applicants will then be recommended for a second interview with their preferred field site or employer. During the process, candidates will indicate their preferred field worksites and may interview with agencies from the list of approved partners for placement consideration. Once all interviews are complete, candidates will be notified of the final decision regarding their application.
Program participants will also complete a job application for their employment site if they are not currently employed.
