Support for Behavioral Health Field Placements Program

To be eligible for the Behavioral Health Field Placements program, the student must:

1. Be enrolled in an eligible institution, as defined;
2. Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term, with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education (BHE) policy;
3. Be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations; or have an approved eligibility status designated by the BHE pursuant to the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law1 or otherwise;
4. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) as applicable for eligible students under the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law2 annually;
5. Comply with financial aid verification requirements;
6. Not be in default on any federal or state student loans for attendance at any institution, or owe a refund for any previous state financial aid program;
7. Enroll, as a matriculated student, on a full-time or part-time basis (minimum of 6 credits, or the equivalent) in an eligible behavioral health program of study leading to a baccalaureate or graduate level degree; and
8. Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to institution’s requirements and federal standards.

Accredited public and private higher education institutions located in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees that offer eligible programs, listed below:

• American International College
• Anna Maria College
• Assumption University
• Bay Path University
• Boston College
• Boston Graduate School Of Psychoanalysis Inc
• Boston University
• Bridgewater State University
• Cambridge College
• Fitchburg State University
• Framingham State University
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Harvard University
• Lesley University
• MCPHS University
• Merrimack College
• MHG Institute Of Health Professions
• Northeastern University
• Regis College
• Salem State University
• Simmons University
• Smith College
• Springfield College
• Suffolk University
• Tufts University
• University Of Massachusetts-Amherst
• University Of Massachusetts-Boston
• University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
• Western New England University
• Westfield State University
• William James College
• Worcester State University

Behavioral health or related degree or certificate programs, inclusive of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD)/opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs, that require work-place based internships, apprenticeships, or practicum credit hours as a condition for program completion, including but not limited to the following:

• Bachelor’s level
  • Social Work
  • Clinical/Counseling Psychology
  • Applied Behavioral Analysis
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Substance Use/Addiction Counseling
  • Art/Music Therapy

• Master’s level
  • Master’s level Social Work
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Substance Abuse Counseling
  • Addictions Counseling
  • Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
  • Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Master’s level Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing program

Or any other programs that directly name behavioral health, mental health or substance use treatment as its specific area of inquiry and require one or more field placements as a degree requirement.

Pursuant to an interagency service agreement between the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Higher Education, the Board of Higher Education is authorized to award up to $5,000 for each semester in which a student enrolls in and completes a degree-required workplace-based internship, apprenticeship, or practicum credit hours, subject to a maximum of $10,000 per academic year, and $20,000 per recipient across two academic years.

Reach out to your school’s financial aid office for additional information for the application process, or to the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070.