Jewish Heritage Fund grant supports new Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program
Bellarmine University’s Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program has received a $105,000 grant from the Jewish Heritage Fund to support a new initiative aimed at strengthening adolescent mental health care in Louisville and across Kentucky.
The grant will be used to expand youth access to mental health care while preparing the next generation of clinicians through Louisville’s first Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program. Bellarmine launched the program in fall 2025 to address a growing need for trained mental health providers. The program’s inaugural cohort enrolled 15 students, exceeding its initial capacity due to strong demand, with future cohorts expected to grow.
The funding will provide fellowships for students completing required clinical training, which is often an unpaid obligation for students in the program. This will help reduce financial barriers and makethe program more accessible to a diverse group of future mental health professionals. It will also support a community-focused event intended to elevate youth voices and connect partners working to improve adolescent mental health outcomes.
The grant-funded event, on April 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will bring together youth-serving professions and teens for a community conversation focused on raising awareness, elevating youth voices, and sharing best practices for creating safer, more affirming spaces that support adolescent mental health and wellness across clinical and community settings. The event, titled "Adolescent Mental Health in Community: Connection, Care, and Advocacy.” For more information and to register for this free event, which includes lunch, visit this link.
The initiative aligns with the Jewish Heritage Fund’s focus on adolescent health and wellness and reflects a shared commitment to ensuring young people in the community are healthy, supported, and able to thrive.
“In Kentucky and across the country, the demand for adolescent mental health services continues to outpace the number of trained providers,” said Dr. Felicia D. Smith, program director for the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. “This investment by the Jewish Heritage Fund allows us to expand the pipeline of clinicians who are specifically prepared to meet the unique needs of adolescents while strengthening access to care in our community.”
Students in the program complete 600 hours of clinical training across multiple placements, gaining hands-on experience delivering evidence-based care in real-world settings. The addition of fellowships – available to admitted students through a competitive application process – will help ensure more students can fully participate in these experiences, regardless of financial circumstances, while strengthening the workforce pipeline in a critical area of need.
The program emphasizes culturally responsive care, social advocacy, and community partnership, preparing graduates not only to practice independently, but also to help shape more equitable mental health systems.
As Bellarmine celebrates its 75th anniversary, initiatives like this reflect the university’s continued commitment to student success, workforce impact, and service to the community – advancing its mission to educate students mind, body, and spirit while addressing pressing regional needs.