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ABOUT THE FUND
A belief that wellness and recovery should be available to everyone is the cornerstone of Full Circle's vision, and so we strive to make attaining optimal wellness an option for our entire community. Having a therapist you connect to and feel safe with is an essential piece of healing and recovery. For some, this might mean connecting with a non-white therapist. Unfortunately, we have found that in WNC there is a deficit in BIPOC therapists, which serves as a barrier for clients who would prefer to work with a non-white therapist. Thus, our mission in creating this assistance fund is to offer some financial support to BIPOC persons in WNC who are pursuing a Masters degree in a mental health field. Our hope is that this will ultimately help clients connect with more therapists that meet their unique needs.
We understand that the lack of diversity in the mental health field is bigger than this one fund can address; this is just one step. However, it is our hope and belief that many small steps create systemic change. |
FAQ
Who Can Apply?
Anyone who is a part of a racial or ethnic minority is welcome to apply. You must also have been accepted to a Western North Carolina Masters program in social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Yes, school counselors also qualify. Preference is given to students planning to stay in WNC following graduation. What's Next?
The application window closes at 5PM, July 11. Over the following two weeks, we will select students to advance to the interview portion of the application process. Applicants will be notified by July 25, as to whether they will be advancing to the interviews or not. Applicants who do not receive funding, are welcome to apply again the following year. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO RECEIVES THE AWARD?
Initially, a four person selection committee reviews all applications and then invites five applicants to attend an individual interview with the selection committee. The interviews are roughly 20 minutes long. Through the application and interview process, the committee considers the following factors in determining who receives the award: (1) commitment to staying in Western North Carolina, (2) individual financial need, (3) passion for the field and their own future plans, (4) resiliency, (5) commitment to activism and/or social justice. How many students will receive funding?
The number of awards we offer changes in accordance with the amount of money we are able to raise throughout the year. In our first year, we were only able to extend the award to one student, but for the last two years we were able to provide funds to two students. Our hope is that as the fund grows we will be able to offer assistance to more students in WNC. WHAT COUNTIES QUALIFY AS WNC?
Because we hope to increase access to BIPOC therapists within Western North Carolina, we prioritize giving the award to future therapists who intend to stay in WNC. If you are attending school outside of this region but plan to move here following graduation, please consider applying. Our selection criteria is based on where you want to be once you are a practicing therapist, not where you are attending school. Below is a list of counties that we define as being within WNC:
How DO I PREPARE FOR MY INTERVIEW?
Our interviews are roughly 20 minutes long. We strive to make the interview process as comfortable and welcoming as possible, but understand that interviews can be nerve-racking Mostly, we want to get to know you. What interests and motivates you about therapy and/or social justice? What visions do you have for your future? What would you like us to know about who you are as a person and as a future practitioner? Finally, because we assess for individual financial need, during the interview, we will ask for an updated assessment of scholarships and aid that you have received. When/how Will I receive the check?
You will receive a check in the mail by August 8, or you may make alternate arrangements (i.e. in-person pick up) by contacting the committee directly. |
Apply now! The application is an online form that is emailed directly to us when you hit submit. After application closes we will reach out to you with next steps.
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Our scholarship fund is 100% donation based. If you'd like to contribute to the scholarship fund, follow the link above and make a donation online through Square.
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Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have regarding the application process or making a donation to the fund.
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