William James College to Launch the Men of Color Career Advancement℠ (MoCCA) Program

$50,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation Grant will expand training for men of color in partnership with the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Young Man With A Plan & community health centers

William James College (WJC) has been awarded a $50,000 Special Initiatives grant by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation to expand the focus of its Behavioral Health Service Corps to train men of color who are underrepresented in the field. In partnership with the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Young Man With A Plan, and several community-based health centers, WJC will launch the Men of Color Career Advancement℠ (MoCCA) Program, a year-long pilot project designed to help build the pipeline of professionals of color who can address the mental health and substance use needs of historically marginalized groups in the Commonwealth.

According to Dr. Gemima St. Louis, Vice President for Workforce Initiatives and Specialty Training at WJC, disparities in the U.S. behavioral health field are pervasive and systemic. “Across the board, ethnic, linguistic and racial minority groups do not have adequate access to culturally informed behavioral health services and often face significant barriers when seeking essential care,” said Dr. St. Louis. “The MoCCA Program aims to recruit, train, and mentor a dedicated group of mental health practitioners who will be deployed in neighborhoods with the greatest need. This generous grant will allow us to invest in men of color who will work on the frontlines to provide vital services and address persistent health inequities in underserved communities.”

Dr. Damon Pryor, Adjunct Faculty and Coordinator of Professional and Career Advancement Programs at William James College, will lead and oversee the implementation of this timely initiative. Over the course of the year-long program, MoCCA Scholars will enroll in a certificate training program and be paired with professional mentors who will provide career guidance and coaching. In addition to offering educational opportunities and one-on-one support, men of color who enroll in the program will benefit from field work at community-based organizations such as outpatient clinics and residential treatment centers where they will train as peer support counselors, community health workers, outreach staff, and other entry-level positions. Scholars will also receive an annual stipend for cost-of-living expenses. 

“William James College’s MoCCA Program will accelerate efforts to diversify the behavioral health workforce and lessen disparities in mental health and substance use care,” said Jacquie Anderson, Senior Director of Grantmaking at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. “We are pleased to support and invest in this project to create sustainable career pathways for men of color and increase access to culturally responsive behavioral health services across the Commonwealth.”

As engagement with area stakeholders is considered critical to the program’s success, WJC will facilitate meetings with partners, community leaders, and elected officials to discuss local and regional needs and outline goals for reach and impact. 

To date, several nonprofits and social services agencies, including Aspire Health, Child & Family Services, Codman Square Health Center, Justice Resource Institute, Mattapan Community Health Center, North Suffolk Community Services, Seven Hills Foundation, Upham’s Community Care Health Center and The Home for Little Wanderers, have agreed to employ program participants. “We consider this level of commitment a strong indicator of the project’s merits and a recognition of its potential benefits to both the participants and the communities they will serve,” said Dr. St Louis.

About William James College

Founded in 1974, William James College is an independent, non-profit institution and a leader in educating the next generation of mental health professionals to support the growing and diverse needs of the mental health workforce. Integrating field work with academics, the College prepares students for careers as organizational leaders and behavioral health professionals who are committed to helping the underserved, multicultural populations, children and families, and veterans. William James College alumni can be found making an impact in a variety of settings, including schools, the courts, clinical care facilities, hospitals, the community, and the workplace. 

The project is funded by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Created in 2001, the mission of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is to expand access to health care in Massachusetts through grantmaking and policy initiatives.

To learn more about the College, please visit www.williamjames.edu.   

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