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Minority Fellowship Recipients - University of Akron

 
AAMFT MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Awards Two Lambda Chapter Members

 
What is the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP)?
The objectives of the MFP are to expand the delivery of culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to ethnic minority communities and underserved population and increase the number of doctoral level culturally competent Marriage and Family therapists committed to advancing the mental health interests of ethnic minority communities and underserved populations. AAMFT has been award this grant continuously since 2007 and has supported the training of over 89 doctoral MFT students from across the country. The MFP is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) premier mental health workforce development training program focused on mental health disparities faced by underserved and minority communities.

What are the requirements?
The objectives of the MFP are to expand the delivery of culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to ethnic minority communities and underserved population and increase the number of doctoral level culturally competent Marriage and Family therapists committed to advancing the mental health interests of ethnic minority communities and underserved populations. AAMFT has been award this grant continuously since 2007 and has supported the training of over 89 doctoral MFT students from across the country. The MFP is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) premier mental health workforce development training program focused on mental health disparities faced by underserved and minority communities.

 
 
 


Symphonie - Headshot.jpgSymphonie D. Smith, MFT, PC
I am beyond excited and grateful to have been chosen as a 2014-2015 AAMFT/MFP fellowship recipient. The program goals for MFP are very much complementary to my professional aspirations, related to servicing underserved populations via, therapy/treatment, education, advocacy and research. I self-identify as an African American female, and a first generation college student from a low-income family background.

Therefore, as my identity affords me membership in several underserved cultural groups, the work encouraged by this fellowship is dear to my heart. In addition to the obvious benefit of financial support from this fellowship, I am utterly thankful for the training opportunities, networking and professional development offered to fellows in this program.
 
My participation in the MFP will help me become a better multicultural competent therapist, educator, researcher and advocate.  Although financial support definitely helps, this manner of preparation will prove to be invaluable to my personal development as a therapist, my contribution to the field and to my future clients and students. Anyone who has a passion for working with underserved populations, multicultural competence, diversity, research and providing substance abuse treatment should definitely consider applying for the AAMFT MFP fellowship!





Noelle - Headshot Cropped.jpgNoelle Chappelle Zamudio, MFT, PC-CR
I am very proud to be a recipient of the 2014-2015 AAMFT/SAMHSA Minority Fellowship. This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime as it will allow me tremendous networking, professional development, learning and research opportunities. What also excites me is the chance to obtain mentorship from other MFTs around the nation.

I am eager to expand upon my knowledge base regarding substance use and cultural competency in MFT. Furthermore, I am positive this experience will broaden both my professional and academic horizons and cause me to continue to be creative in my problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. I will be more than happy to share more about the fellowship and the benefits I have obtained from it as the semester wears on.