UHV school psychology grant funds 10 students’ education
Christa Huff first thought about pursuing a career in school psychology when she graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology in 1991, but life intervened. Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, she now has the chance to take the next step.
“When I first learned about the school psychology field, I was a young mother who didn’t have the capability to be in a fully immersive graduate program while also trying to care for a new baby,” the Katy resident said. “Now, both of my daughters are out of high school, and this grant is making it possible for me to finally achieve my dream.”
Huff is one of a cohort of 10 University of Houston-Victoria students whose tuition and fees, as well as other services, will be covered by the Creating Targeted Undergraduate Pathways to Build the Professional Identity and Leadership of Future School Psychologists grant, which UHV received in 2023. The $1.5 million grant is funding an effort that targets access to mental health services in schools. The effort is a partnership with the Katy Independent School District, which will give 10 UHV students support from earning their undergraduate degrees to entering graduate school, getting school psychology internships in the Katy Independent School District and eventually becoming Licensed Specialists in School Psychology.
“In recent years, there’s been more awareness of mental health issues and needs in young people, but there’s still a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals in schools,” said Elise Hendricker, UHV professor of school psychology. “This training grant is a great way to support and encourage students to earn their degrees and go straight into positions in a district.”
For Huff, this grant is helping her realize a lifelong dream. When she first graduated in 1991, she wasn’t sure what area of counseling she should pursue, but one of her professors suggested school psychology, she said. At the time, the issue of crack and cocaine addiction was sweeping the nation, and her advisor told her that soon there would be children attending school who were born addicted to the dangerous drugs because of their parents’ usage during pregnancy.
“He told me that those kids will be starting kindergarten, and the system is going to have to figure out how to serve their needs, including offering testing, counseling, creating service plans and finding the best resources for them,” she said. “Now we’re even more aware of the many different struggles that children face, including autism, ADHD, and many other diagnoses and conditions. I want to be equipped to help them learn successfully, and this grant is making it possible for me to do that.”
In the 90s, Huff had to put her education on the backburner because programs were not offered in a way that supported parents raising children. At that time, she chose to focus on being a mother and raising her daughters. Even when her children grew up and finished high school, she was concerned about how she could afford to return to get her Specialist in School Psychology degree because it would be too hard to pay for it on her family’s single income. That’s when she saw an ad for the grant program at UHV in a local newspaper.
“At first I didn’t know if it was real, but when I learned more, I decided to go for it,” she said. “I’m over the moon that this is available. To me, it confirms that this is my calling and now is the right time to go for it. Otherwise, I’d have to get a job, maybe as a paraprofessional, and work my way through the program part time. Instead, I get to focus completely on the program and work with a mentor. I love that UHV stepped outside the norm and offered this hybrid program with grants to support students like me.”
Huff’s story is a common one that often impacts or limits students who want to pursue school psychology and similar programs, said Jennifer Reeder, senior academic advisor for the UHV College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. Because graduate programs often have limited available financial resources outside of student loans, the ability to offer a grant can be a game changer for students.
“This grant opens doors for students who otherwise might not be able to pursue these programs,” Reeder said. “If UHV can ease that financial burden by applying for and offering these resources, we’ll not only help our students but also strengthen the university’s connection with the community through the partnership with a school district.”
Grant #S184X220131 is 100 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Department of Education.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.