Community College Partnership Fills Education, Mental Health Gaps In Amador County

That’s the case in Amador County, a region southeast of Sacramento where there’s no community college or public university. Residents and research shows there’s also a shortage of mental health workers in the county. To tackle these shortages, the county is funding a unique scholarship program to provide an educational stepping stone for residents who want to work in the mental health field. Through Amador College Connect, students can enroll in online courses through Coastline Community College in Orange County to pursue a certificate or associate degree in human services. The scholarship program, administered by the Amador Community College Foundation, covers students’ tuition, fees and books. Amador is one of six California counties without a physical community college. It also struggles to recruit mental health providers. A small online learning program could offer a solution to both problems. CAP Radio’s Health Care Reporter Sammy Caiola reported on the barriers Amador County residents face in accessing mental health care, including the rural suicide crisis and the shortage of local providers. The scholarship program and Amador College Connect together represent an innovative local response to these twin challenges: lack of accessible higher education and an insufficient mental health workforce. Originally published by Capital Public Radio (CAP Radio). Full article: https://www.capradio.org/news/insight/2019/11/14/community-college-partnership-fills-education-mental-health-gaps-in-amador-county/