Workforce Development Scholarship Program
The Tracy Family Foundation (TFF) announces its first-ever Mental Health Workforce Development scholarships. This $100,000 investment will support 12 professionals from five West Central Illinois counties as they pursue graduate degrees in mental health-related fields.
The scholarship program was established in response to an ongoing shortage of counselors, social workers, and other licensed mental health professionals throughout the region. By supporting individuals who are already working in mental health-related roles, TFF aims to help them advance their education and increase the number of licensed professionals serving West Central Illinois.
Recipients of this year’s scholarships represent a range of service areas, including counseling, social work, substance use treatment, child welfare, community support, school-based services, and rural mental health care.
“These scholarships represent an investment not only in the individuals pursuing advanced education, but also in the communities and organizations they serve,” said TFF Mental Health Program Manager Terry Jenkins. “By helping current professionals take the next step in their education, we hope to expand the pipeline of qualified mental health professionals and strengthen access to care throughout West Central Illinois.”
Full-time students were eligible to receive up to $10,000 per academic year, while parttime students were eligible for up to $5,000. Scholarships may be renewed annually for up to four years, providing continued support as recipients complete their graduate education.
The initial $100,000 in awards marks the beginning of a longer-term effort to build the mental health workforce throughout the region. As current recipients progress toward licensure and future scholarship cohorts enter the program, TFF hopes the investment will create a lasting impact across local organizations and communities.
About the Tracy Family Foundation The Tracy Family Foundation was established in 1997 by the Robert and Dorothy Tracy family to advance innovative, collaborative, and sustainable change in Brown County, Illinois, and the surrounding region through organizations that share the values of family, faith, education, leadership, and community. The Foundation works to help communities thrive and families flourish while cultivating a philanthropic spirit across generations of the Tracy family through opportunities to give and serve together. Learn more at www.tracyfoundation.org.
