RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – In 2018, the John T. Vucurevic Foundation launched the Mental Health Builders Scholarship Program and has since been working with mental health organizations to provide staff with financial support and education to better serve others.
Lifeways is one of the organisations that works with the Foundation to award scholarships to its staff members to further their professional education.
Michelle Brink Gluchowski, the association's executive director, said the Mental Health Builders Scholarship Scheme has been a key way to retain and support staff.
“This costs money. We're a nonprofit. We try to use our funds for the services we provide, but we love our staff and we want to support them. This program really helps them get some assistance paying for tuition,” Brink Gluchowski said.
The scholarship aims to help mental health professionals feel supported as they care for people struggling with their own issues.
“These scholarships allow us to invest in current employees who are serious about advancing their careers, helping them gain the skills they need to serve the mental health needs of their communities. They also help them take on higher positions within their organizations, while also feeling rewarded and honored for the work they do,” said Carrie Tisdall, communications director for the John T. Vucurevic Foundation.
In the six years since the program has been in place, a total of $367,877 has been awarded to 76 recipients, and this year alone the Foundation distributed more than $60,000 to 18 individuals.
“I think this is really going to help build stable organizations in our community, and we've seen a really great response from not only actual organizations, but people who are actually doing the work and getting their master's degrees,” Tisdall said.
For more information about the Mental Health Builders Scholarship, click here.
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