Nevada State University rolls out new program to combat school psychologist shortage
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Nevada has ranked last in the country for access to mental health services. Schools across the state are also seeing shortages of school psychologists and mental health professionals, making it even harder for kids to receive the care they need.
That’s why Nevada State University is proud to roll out its new psychology graduate program.
Stephanie Sandoval Aleman is a senior studying psychology at Nevada State University (NSU) and said her goal is to work with kids after undergoing an individualized education program to help her learn in school.
“I myself, had an IEP so I kind of know as a student what that felt like being young so just learning about the other side of how to help and how it all came about, knowing how to help and what to provide,” Aleman said.
She’s excited to start her three-year course in the school’s psychology graduate program which is designed to help address the shortage of school psychologists across the state.
The Nevada State Board of Education recommends that there should be one school psychologist for every 500 students. According to the Nevada Association of School Psychologists, the ratio for Nevada classrooms in 2019 was one school psychologist per 2,200 students.
Dr. Katie Dockweiler, Assistant Professor of School Psychology at Nevada State University is spearheading the program.
“It’s a hidden profession, not too many people this exists so one of the things we’re doing at Nevada State University is growing a pipeline,” Dr. Dockweiler said.
Dr. Dockweiler said the shortage has grown and needs have been exacerbated during and after the pandemic.
“We’re going into our local high schools and promoting all school-based mental health career fields and creating undergraduate programming for graduate school,” Dr. Dockweiler added.
The program’s ARTERY Pipeline Framework also gives students hands-on training in the Clark County School District and at NSU’s early childhood center.
Nevada State University is currently taking applications, they’re looking to accept 12 to 18 students when the program starts in Fall 2024.
UNLV was the only school offering psychology training, making NSU another option to complete training allowing them to double the amount of school psychologists in Nevada.
“We know it’s one thing to train individuals to enter the field in school psychology but then retain them so they do stay in the field,” Dr. Dockweiler explained.
That’s exactly what Sandoval Aleman plans to do.
“I definitely see the need out here and definitely being part of that and part of the program, I think it would be great to just start here,” Aleman added.
The project also provides scholarships and internship funds for the first four cohorts of students pursuing their Ed.S. graduate degree in school psychology.
The School Psychology Graduate Program at NSU is from a five-year $1.2 million Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration grant that Nevada State received from the U.S. Department of Education earlier this year.
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