William James College Announces Metrowest Health Foundation Grant

Funds will support a new Behavioral Health Service Corps “Bridge Program” to Strengthen Framingham’s Workforce and Expand Access to Care

William James College (WJC) will launch BHSC–Bridge (The Bridge Program), a new Behavioral Health Service Corps (BHSC) initiative thanks to generous support from the Framingham Union Grants Panel of the MetroWest Health Foundation. The Bridge Program is designed to promote continuing education and career advancement, strengthen Framingham’s behavioral health workforce, and create paid career opportunities for local community college graduates.

Through BHSC–Bridge, as many as twelve graduates of MassBay Community College will be placed in paid positions at locally-based behavioral health organizations, including the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) and the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. Participants will receive on-the-job training, professional mentorship, and free coursework at William James College while serving individuals and families in need of mental health and substance use treatment.

The program was created in response to urgent community needs. According to the MetroWest Community Health Assessment, mental health remains the top health concern in the region, particularly among youth and non-English-speaking populations, with only one in three residents who sought mental health services were able to access them.

“The MetroWest Health Foundation always welcomes the opportunity to invest in solutions that expand access to care and strengthen our local workforce,” said Rebecca Donham, Senior Program Officer at MetroWest Health Foundation. “The BHSC–Bridge Program will prepare the next generation of behavioral health professionals while ensuring that Framingham residents receive timely, culturally responsive mental health care.”

BHSC–Bridge builds on William James College’s nationally recognized Behavioral Health Service Corps, originally launched in 2020 as a paid service-year program for bachelor’s-level graduates. More than 40 percent of BHSC participants identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and two-thirds of graduates remain working at their placement sites after completing the program.

“Service Corps programs advance workforce development and positively impact the community,” said Gemima St. Louis, Vice President for Workforce Initiatives at William James College. “With backing from MetroWest Health Foundation and in partnership with MassBay Community College and local agencies, BHSC–Bridge creates a direct pathway from community college to meaningful careers in behavioral health, while addressing the roadblocks that limit access to high quality care.”

Participants will work in a variety of roles such as case managers, community health workers, and peer specialists while completing two bachelor’s-level courses, provided at no cost through William James College’s Psychology and Human Services Bachelor’s Completion Program. Program graduates will earn six transferable credits and a Certificate of Completion.

Planning is underway, with student placements expected to begin in 2026.

 

About William James College

A national leader in behavioral health education and workforce development, William James College prepares culturally responsive professionals and partners with community agencies to strengthen access to care across New England.

About MetroWest Health Foundation

MetroWest Health Foundation is an independent health philanthropy whose mission is to improve the health status of the community, its individuals, and families through informed and innovative leadership.

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