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At The Recovery Village, highly-qualified addiction specialists and behavioral health professionals guide people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions to recovery. The future of the behavioral health industry will continue to be built by dedicated, compassionate individuals with a desire to help others find a better life.
Though we no longer offer a proprietary scholarship, many different scholarships are available to college students hoping to enter the counseling or healthcare fields. We encourage anyone who is interested in behavioral health to learn more about the majors, jobs and opportunities available to help them start on the path to a satisfying health care career.
Working in the healthcare industry is often more than a career — it’s a calling. College majors in the health sciences, psychology, social work, nursing and pre-medical school paths like biology and chemistry prepare students for these rewarding and stimulating careers. Degrees and certifications in these areas come with significant benefits, including:
Health care professionals enjoy a wide range of positions, specialties and workplaces to choose from, so prospective students can also find a niche that suits and fulfills them.
Addiction impacts every facet of a patient’s life: their physical and mental health, relationships, job outlook and overall quality of life. Substance abuse professionals help patients create a better future, free from drugs or alcohol. This work is indispensable to each patient they work with, providing health care, mental health counseling and social services to support a life-changing recovery.
Substance abuse is a massive problem in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of the 19.9 million individuals (8.1% of the U.S. population) who needed substance abuse treatment in 2016, only 10.8% or 2.1 million received treatment at a rehab facility. The need for a new generation of addiction professionals is critical. Substance abuse and mental health counseling jobs, for example, are expected to grow 22% between 2018 and 2028.
Addiction treatment requires a variety of professional roles with different levels of expertise. People can work at hospitals, private practices, public and private rehab facilities, community centers, non-profits organizations and more. At a rehabilitation treatment facility like The Recovery Village, there are medical doctors, substance abuse counselors, mental health counselors, substance abuse nurses and behavioral health technicians, among others. Teletherapy is also growing in popularity.
Scholarship opportunities are available to students to support this growing need for qualified substance abuse and mental health professionals. The following academic resources can help you pursue a healthcare career in these fields:
The Recovery Village is dedicated to providing exceptional service at our alcohol and drug rehab facilities while providing unique opportunities for education and personal development. As part of this commitment, The Recovery Village offered a $1,000 scholarship to students pursuing a medical-related course of study for several years, ending in 2019 with Serina Sha.
Past entries have included personal recovery stories, accounts of family addiction or mental health conditions, and how these experiences have inspired a career in health care.
The 2019 winner of The Recovery Village Health Care Scholarship, Serina Sha, received $1,000 to cover educational expenses. Serena is participating in a dual bachelor and doctor of osteopathic medicine program at Nova Southeastern University. She hopes to become a psychiatrist in either a hospital or private practice.
Serina is also interested in working as a public health professional with wide-reaching organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From a research perspective, Serena hopes to expand on and contribute to the literature on evidence-based programs and treatment at organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Serena submitted a personal essay outlining her experience with the medical field as it relates to mental health and addiction. In her essay, she states, “Medicine, whether it’s orthopedics or psychiatry, is simply about retrieving the patient’s confidence.”
“Because of Recovery Village’s help, I am able to focus more on my academic success instead of my financial obligations.” – Serina Sha
With a family connection to mental health, physical health and addiction, Serena is dedicated to empowering people to maintain health through psychiatric care. The Recovery Village looks forward to seeing the positive influence Serena can have on the world through her educational endeavors.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Findings from NSDUH reveal that only a subset of individuals receive services for substance use and mental health issues.” September 21, 2017. Accessed June 19, 2020.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Healthcare Occupations.” April 10, 2020. Accessed June 19, 2020.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” April 10, 2020. Accessed June 19, 2020.
The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab
633 Umatilla Blvd. Umatilla, FL 32784
(352) 771-2700
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