MSBHCOP

The Mississippi Behavioral Health Careers Opportunity Program (MSBHCOP) is a workforce development initiative led by Afya Care and Treatment Services to expand access to behavioral health care across rural Mississippi. The program engages middle school youth, high school youth, and college students, introducing them to careers in behavioral health, social services, and public health. By combining education, mentorship, and real-world experience, MSBHCOP builds a strong pipeline of compassionate, community-rooted professionals prepared to meet the growing behavioral health needs of Mississippi’s communities.
 

MSBHCOP provides participants with academic enrichment, professional development, and direct field placement opportunities that expose them to diverse behavioral health settings. Through hands-on training and guided mentorship, youth gain practical skills in communication, ethics, client engagement, and wellness promotion. This early exposure helps participants explore behavioral health as a viable and rewarding career path—empowering them to become agents of change in their communities.
 

The program also works to address behavioral health workforce shortages by prioritizing inclusion of students from populations underrepresented in health professions. Participants receive individualized support through stipends, tutoring, career counseling, and networking with professionals across the field. By reducing barriers to education and employment, MSBHCOP creates equitable access to behavioral health careers while cultivating a workforce that reflects the diversity and resilience of Mississippi’s communities.
 

At its heart, MSBHCOP embodies Afya’s mission to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and accessible care to populations in need. By investing in youth and young adults today, Afya and its partners are shaping a future behavioral health workforce that is skilled, empathetic, and committed to improving mental health outcomes across the state.