Application Information
In 1974, the National Institute of Minority Health (NIMH) established the Ethnic Minority Fellowship Program, a grant initiative, to enhance services to minority communities through specialized PhD training. After 1994, NIMH transferred the Minority Fellowship Program to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
In 2007, the Minority Fellowship Program (for doctoral students) was created at the AAMFT Research and Education Foundation, now the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS), whose mission is to fund systemic and relational research, scholarship, and education in an effort to support and enhance the practice of systemic and relational therapies; advance the health care continuum; and improve client outcomes. SAMHSA began to fund the AAMFT MFP in 2008. In 2014, under President Obama's Now is the Time Initiative, SAMHSA expanded the Minority Fellowship Program to include the MFP-Youth for masters students. The MFP-Y (formally NITT-Y) program aims to increase the number of culturally competent Master's-level trained behavioral health professionals available to serve children, adolescents and youth transitioning into adulthood ages 16-25.
In 2025, the MFP program expanded its mission to be more far-reaching, broadening its focus beyond population-specific initiatives to encompass a wider range of practitioners. This revision reflects a commitment to developing a robust behavioral health workforce equipped with advanced competencies to deliver comprehensive mental health, substance use, and prevention services.
Follow the above link to learn more about the professional development, training and mentorship experience, and the life-changing experience that Fellows have had during their year in the FAHS MFP Fellowship program.
The MFP Advisory Committee (AC) members assist the MFP is achieving its objectives. If you are interested in becoming an MFP Advisory Committee member and want to learn more about the application process please visit our Volunteer Applications page.
The primary goal of the FAHS MFP National Service Committee (NSC) is to strengthen the FAHS MFP program by providing strategic guidance, resources, and mentorship to students from communities. The FAHS MFP NSC aims to build sustainable partnerships with educational institutions, enhance pathways to careers in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and mental health professions, and secure financial and professional support from MFP groups and other stakeholders. By fostering education in the mental health workforce, the NSC seeks to address mental health workforce shortages and improve care.
Attend the MFP Application Informational Webinars:
January 13, 2026 at 11:30am EST via Zoom