The NBCC Foundation’s objectives are to (1) increase the number of National Certified Counselors and Mental Health Facilitators, (2) ensure that they are working in high-priority areas, and (3) engage them in innovative counseling practices for the underserved. National Certified Counselors are professional counselors who have met high national standards and who work directly with clients. Mental Health Facilitators, although not counselors, educate the broader community and work with various professionals—counselors, teachers or clergy, for example—to identify mental health needs and suggest solutions. The high-priority areas of underserved and never-served populations are U.S. service members and families, minority populations, and rural and other geographic areas with insufficient counseling resources. Increasing positive mental health in areas with little or no resources requires innovative approaches. The Foundation engages its National Certified Counselors and Mental Health Facilitators in training and facilitation to spark leadership in innovative practice. Scholarships, capacity-building grants and innovation symposia are our primary tools for accomplishing these objectives. The Foundation’s strategy is to award scholarships to individuals who are already pursuing a career as a professional counselor, are affiliated with one of the high-priority areas and will commit to working there for at least two years. In addition, the Foundation provides capacity-building grants to train Mental Health Facilitators in these and other areas where access to mental health care is extremely limited. Both groups are involved in innovation and leadership training that enable the individuals to expand effective practice in their locations.
