The West Central Alabama AHEC, in coordination with partners across Hale, Marengo, and Perry Counties in Alabama, will implement The Longleaf Outreach Project, an innovative, community-based workforce development project aimed to increase the healthcare workforce pipeline in rural Alabama.
The Longleaf Outreach Project will intertwine aspects of the strong structures of the West Central Alabama AHEC’s Health Professions Academy (HPA) and Community Health Worker (CHW) programs to create the HPA 2.0 program and will provide immediate employability and workforce development to seniors and individuals not enrolled in secondary education ages 17+ by equipping them with community knowledge and understanding of barriers to mental and behavioral health services in our area, including social determinants of health, Youth Mental Health First Aid and community service opportunities.
HPA 2.0 will also train participants to become CHWs to increase behavioral health support for individuals at risk and diagnosed with SUD/OUD and other behavioral health conditions as identified during the project.
Application Link: The Longleaf Outreach Program Application
Contact: Mercedes Lightfoot
Email: Mercedes.lightfoot@wcaahec.org
Phone: 205-575-8172