SMART Internship Program

The primary objectives of the Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) Program are two-fold: (1) to increase the shortage of trained school-based mental health services providers in Michigan’s high risk schools; and (2) to address the increased mental health demands of children and youth in Michigan experiencing stress, trauma, social isolation and anxiety attributed, in part, to post-pandemic adjustments. The SMART grant is designed to support student professional social work training and internship practicum supervision. Funding is designated for beginning student interns as well as returning, second-year interns, enrolled in graduate-level mental health professional programs and supervised in qualified public school practicum internships. UM-SSW students receiving SMART awards are required to work in a public school for not less than 3 school years post-graduation.