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�������� — In response to ��������’s escalating youth mental health crisis, the University of �������� has been awarded a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation, a private foundation based in Portland with a goal of ensuring that all �������� children are resilient and ready to succeed, to support an innovative project aimed at expanding the state’s behavioral health workforce. 

The project, titled Expanding the �������� Youth Behavioral Health Workforce: Integrating Evidence-Based Practice into Graduate Training, is a collaborative effort between Dr. Jennifer Blossom (PhD, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Lab, University of �������� Department of Psychology), Dr. Elizabeth Armstrong (PhD, MSW, University of �������� School of Social Work), and Liam Shaw (MBA, LCSW, Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center at ��������General).

The initiative will train graduate students and clinicians in MATCH (Modular Approach to Therapy for Children), a flexible, scientifically-supported mental health intervention for youth ages 6–17. MATCH is proven effective in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and behavioral issues, and its structured, caregiver-inclusive approach has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce provider burnout.

“Using a flexible and scientifically-supported program like MATCH is key to addressing our state’s youth mental health crisis,” said Blossom. “By using MATCH, youth and families can get connected to care that actually works – meaning they will see improvements much faster and as a result spend less time in treatment and more time doing the things they want to do. Consequently, mental health providers will be able to provide care to more youth and families.”

�������� faces significant challenges in youth mental health care. According to the 2023 �������� Integrated Youth Health Survey, 32.7% of adolescents report symptoms of depression, and 21.8% have seriously considered suicide. Despite this urgent need, access to treatment remains limited due to a shortage of trained providers, high turnover, and systemic barriers like lack of insurance and transportation.

This project addresses those challenges head-on by embedding evidence-based training into graduate social work curricula at the University of ��������. Up to 30 students will complete MATCH training and carry caseloads of 4–6 clients each during field placements, ensuring that nearly 100 �������� youth receive specialized treatment during the grant period. The project’s long-term impact is amplified by a sustainable “train-the-trainer” model: a U�������� faculty member will become a certified MATCH trainer, enabling ongoing training for future cohorts and faculty.

“The goal of this project is to give new graduates in the behavioral health field current, cutting-edge tools to directly address ��������’s children’s mental health needs immediately upon being hired into the workforce,” says Shaw, who serves as Manager of Outpatient Pediatric Behavioral Health at ��������General Medical Center. “Studies have shown that clinicians who are trained in evidence-based practices have higher job satisfaction, lower burnout and most importantly, they have overall better treatment outcomes than clinicians who have not been trained in evidence-based practice. To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever been done before in the state of ��������, I am excited and deeply honored to be able to participate in this game-changing initiative.”  

By partnering with the Baker Center for Children and Families, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, and ��������General Health, this initiative builds a foundation for lasting improvements in ��������’s behavioral health landscape – ensuring youth across the state receive the care they need, when and where they need it. The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland with a goal of ensuring that all �������� children are resilient and ready to succeed.

“With rising concerns for the mental health of �������� children and youth, it’s critical that we boost our state’s capacity to deliver the effective treatments they need to thrive,” said John T. Gorman Foundation Program Associate Jean Cousins, MSW. “In bringing MATCH to ��������, this partnership provides an important opportunity to connect young ��������rs to proven supports while strengthening the state’s mental health workforce for years to come.”

Contact: Jennifer Blossom – jennifer.blossom@maine.edu