72 Nebraska high school students attend conference on behavioral health careers

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) hosted the 4th annual High School Ambassador Conference in Kearney on April 1 and 2. The BHECN Ambassador Program recruits and mentors rural students through high school, college and professional school and into behavioral health professions.

The conference builds the behavioral health workforce for rural Nebraska by connecting students with information and resources to explore behavioral health careers. Seventy-two high school juniors and seniors from throughout Nebraska attended the conference.

A total of 64 faculty and student facilitators from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and Chadron State College, and providers representing diverse behavioral health and substance abuse professions, presented and interacted with the students.

“The High School Ambassador conference is the beginning of the pipeline in recruiting future behavioral health professionals in rural Nebraska,” said Howard Liu, M.D., BHECN’s director. “By identifying high school students with an interest in behavioral health careers before they even enter college, we’re able to connect them with faculty and professionals in the field to help mentor them and shape their careers.”

Local area students that participated are:

Chappell - Creek Valley High School, Kali Priest and Kelli Sisco.

Dalton - Leyton High School, Autumn Hartwig.