PITCH Expanded Providers (PEP) program
The Departments of Counseling and Social Work at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and UT Health Science Center San Antonio are collaborating under a HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training (BHWET) to offer specialized training and clinical placements in integrated school, primary care, and community settings.
In 2017, the Department of Counseling was awarded BHWET funding to establish the Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare (PITCH). PEP expands these efforts through inclusion of behavioral health trainees from three additional disciplines, diversified clinical sites, and extensive interprofessional education.
In 2021, the Department of Counseling was awarded an additional $1.6 million to continue expanding efforts to training counselors, social workers, school counselors, and psychologists for an additional 4 years.
Training Program
PITCH Expanded Providers (PEP) includes behavioral health trainees from four disciplines: clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), school counseling (SC), social work (SW), and clinical psychology (PSY). All trainees complete didactic and clinical training focused on serving adults, children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth. Additionally, all PEP trainees participate in ongoing interprofessional education workshops.
Additional training details by track are provided below:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
Twelve CMHC PEP trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP CMHC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters in integrated primary care or community-based settings. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements. PEP CMHC trainees also complete two elective courses (IBH-1 and IBH-2) and are eligible to earn a 12-hour graduate certificate in integrated behavioral healthcare.
School Counseling (SC)
Six PEP SC trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP SC trainees complete 12 hours of online learning modules focused on the role and functions of professional school counselors on integrated care teams. PEP SC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters at their home schools. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements.
Social Work (SW)
Four PEP SW trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP SW trainees complete 12 hours of online learning modules focused on the role and functions of social workers on integrated care teams. PEP SC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters at integrated community settings. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements.
Clinical Psychology (PSY)
The two PEP PSY trainees will be part of the 1-year, 2000 hour, APA accredited Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Internship (Primary Care track) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Long School of Medicine at UT Health Science Center San Antonio. During the year-long internship, PEP trainees from the PSY discipline track will participate in one or two major rotations as well as several year-long clinical activities. Trainees will receive clinical training within the PCBH model across the lifespan.
PEP Team
Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett, Ph.D, LPC-S
PEP Project Director – University of Texas at San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the UTSA BHWET PEP project. Meets with key staff to monitor the implementation of each of the components and works collaboratively with all parties to assure maximum accountability, reliability, and validity for this project.
Heather Trepal, Ph.D., LPC-S
PEP Counseling Track Coordinator – University of Texas at San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling tracks. Works collaboratively with Project Director, PCBH Consultant, faculty and site supervisors to coordinate site development and maintenance. Assumes primary responsibility for communication with the counseling faculty and supervisors, Project Director, and Evaluator.
Stacy Ogbeide, PsyD, ABPP, CSOWM
PCBH Consultant and Clinical Psychology Track Coordinator – UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Clinical Psychology (PSY) track and the Interprofessional Education Curriculum. Primarily responsible for providing consultation related to primary care behavioral health integration course development, trainee clinical training, site supervisor training, and primary care clinic team training for the UTSA BHWET PEP project but works collaboratively with Project Director.
Amy Manning-Thompson, LMSW
Social Work Track, Coordinator – University of Texas at San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Social Work (SW) track. Works collaboratively with Project Director, faculty, and site supervisors to coordinate training coursework and site development and maintenance. She assumes primary responsibility for communication with the SW faculty and supervisors, Project Director, and Evaluator.
Mercedes Ingram, Ph.D., LPC
Evaluator – University Health
Primarily responsible for providing evaluation oversight for the UTSA BHWET PEP project but works collaboratively with Project Director, faculty, and site supervisors to evaluate the project. Assumes primary responsibility for using data to help address health disparities and to inform the continuous quality improvement process.
Swathi Muppa, LPC
Graduate Research Assistant
The Graduate Research Assistant works closely with team members to play a supporting role in the PEP program.