The grant comes from the Jewish Heritage Fund to support youth mental health in the region and the new Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program.
Bellarmine University has received a grant in the amount of $105,000 from the Jewish Heritage Fund to help support youth mental health and the university’s new Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program, which launched in the Fall 2025 semester. Specifically, the grant will provide fellowships for the program’s students, giving them necessary clinical experience, and will fund a youth-focused event called “Adolescent Mental Health in Community: Connection, Care, and Advocacy.”
According to an article on Bellarmine University’s website, Dr. Felicia D. Smith, who serves as the program director for Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, was quoted as saying of the importance of this funding, “In Kentucky and across the country, the demand for adolescent mental health services continues to outpace the number of trained providers. This investment by the Jewish Heritage Fund allows us to expand the pipeline of clinicians who are specifically prepared to meet the unique needs of adolescents while strengthening access to care in our community.”
The Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program, which launched in the Fall 2025 semester, is the first in Louisville, and started operation beyond capacity due to immense interest in the program. The program is expected to continue growing beyond its first cohort of 15 students. Students who participate in this program will become prepared to serve the community through mental health care, giving youths in the region increased access to mental health support.
Funding from this grant will support students in the program through paid fellowship opportunities, which will make the program more accessible to more individuals, including those in underserved and low-income communities. Students in the program must complete 600 clinical training hours through placements in various settings, which are usually unpaid. The grant will provide students with fellowships, allowing them to be paid for their work.
The Jewish Heritage Fund focuses its philanthropic efforts on initiatives that support the health and wellness of adolescents. Through this grant to Bellarmine University, the Jewish Heritage Fund is supporting the event “Adolescent Mental Health in Community: Connection, Care, and Advocacy.” The event takes place on April 22 and will bring together youth, and individuals who work in professions that serve youth, to discuss how to better support children and adolescents with affirmative practices, safe spaces, and raising awareness about youth mental health.
For more information about Bellarmine University, visit the school’s website.