NATCHITOCHES – The Rapides Foundation has funded an initiative that will increase the number of mental health professionals in Central Louisiana. Northwestern State University will serve as Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program regional chair and support 30 master’s level individuals seeking licensure as either Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Central Louisiana.
The Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program Grant funded by The Rapides Foundation and in consultation with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, will help bridge the gap between degrees and licensure. Mental health professionals will receive support for clinical supervision, licensing exam preparation, licensure application fees, professional development and mentoring by content experts. The program will also assist with job placement and provide partial reimbursement of salaries to participating agencies that provide mental health services across nine parishes that include Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Catahoula, LaSalle, Rapides, Avoyelles, Vernon and Allen.
“We appreciate the partnership, trust and support of our grantor, The Rapides Foundation. Over the next four years, together we aim to increase the availability of high-quality mental health care across Central Louisiana,” said Steven Gruesbeck, MS, NCC, executive director of Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program at Northwestern’s Gallaspy Family College of Education and Human Development. “We have assembled a team of experienced program administrators and senior faculty who teach and practice in the fields of Counseling and Social Work.”
Dr. Susan Campbell, associate professor of Social Work and associate director of the program, added that “By removing obstacles and providing relevant support, we will increase the number of fully licensed professionals in Central Louisiana by 2029.”
“Social workers are desperately needed and highly sought after in rural Louisiana to meet the needs of individuals with diminished access to services,” said Byron D. McKinney, MSW, LCSW-BACS, an associate professor of Social Work at NSU and social work content expert for the program.
A review of the literature concerning Louisiana, including reports from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The Rapides Foundation, makes clear there is extraordinary need for high quality mental healthcare in our communities. Similarly, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce reports that Louisiana has 171 Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (Mental HPSAs), including 34 designated HPSA Agencies found in The Rapides Foundation’s nine-parish service area. Over half of pre-licensed therapists who enter the mental health workforce leave before reaching licensure requirements.
These factors negatively affect the economic, social and health status of the region, according to administrators. By partnering with the Foundation as the regional chair of the Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program, NSU can bring years of experience and extensive resources to this workforce development project.
Dr. Gerra Perkins, program coordinator for NSU’s Master of Arts in Counseling program, serves as counseling content expert for the program.
“This is such an exciting opportunity for Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (PLPCs) beginning their licensure journey and a win for our region. Increasing the number of licensed mental health professionals and improving access to mental health care brings a host of benefits for individuals and families in our communities, including connection and resilience, economic well-being and better health outcomes,” Perkins said.
Ellen Jenkins is the program manager who will work closely with counseling and social work candidates to track their 2-year progression towards licensure.
“Ellen is trained in school counseling and library science, and plays a very important role for the team,” Gruesbeck said.
Applications are currently being accepted from prospective placement sites in Central Louisiana and from master’s level mental health professionals with less than 600 clinical hours toward licensure as an LPC or LCSW. Eligibility for the LPC Track requires completion of the PLPC Application Section 1, Academic Background. Eligibility for the LCSW Track requires LMSW status.
Virtual information sessions are planned to begin January 2026. More information is available at https://www.nsula.edu/mental-health-workforce/