Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics

New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc.
Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics
3575 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 102
Mercerville, NJ 08619
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Henry Acosta, MA, MSW, LSW
Project Director
(609) 838-5488, ext. 205; (609) 838-5480 - Fax

New Jersey Mental Health Institute Seeks Applicants
for Hispanic Higher Education Scholarship Fund

MERCERVILLE, N.J. - March 13, 2003 – The New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. (NJMHI) is now accepting applications for the Hispanic Higher Education Scholarship Fund. The Hispanic Higher Education Scholarship Fund is specifically targeted to undergraduate college students of Hispanic background who are bilingual and interested in pursuing a master’s degree in social work from a college or university based in New Jersey. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or have been accepted for admission into one of New Jersey’s Masters in Social Work programs for the upcoming Fall 2003 semester. The application deadline is April 11, 2003. The amount of and quantity of scholarship awards will depend on the contributions raised by the NJMHI. Efforts to raise additional funds are ongoing, and information as to amount of and quantity of awards will be available in early April 2003. Applicants should call (609) 838-5488 ext. 205 for application materials or additional information. Scholarship recipients will be announced and receive their award at the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc.’s annual conference being held on May 6 and May 7, 2003 at The Westin at Forrestal Village in Princeton, N.J.

The NJMHI, an outgrowth of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc., is a private nonprofit charitable organization based in Mercerville, N.J. The Institute was established in July 2000 to promote quality mental health services through training, technical assistance, research, policy development, and anti-stigma and anti-discrimination campaigns. In addition, the NJMHI is spearheading a project, Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics. This project aims to address the nationwide lack of access to quality mental health services for Hispanics and to heighten awareness, acceptance and understanding of mental illness among the Hispanic population by better understanding the beliefs, attitudes, and barriers facing the Hispanic population in need of mental health services, and by implementing effective strategies to address identified barriers. If you are interested in learning more about the NJMHI, please visit our website at www.njmhi.org.

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