Abilene Christian University (ACU) is proud to announce the acceptance of Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student, Lyssa Chandler, into the Minority Fellowship Program organized by the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS) and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the flagship professional association for those serving in the therapy field.
The AAMFT and FAHS represent the interests of more than 72,000 marriage and family therapists across the globe by providing unique opportunities to combine an individual’s identity with the professional standards of the field. Focused on providing workforce development training and guidance for those interested in serving at-risk youth populations, the FAHS Minority Fellowship Program offers students pursuing their master’s degree the opportunity to expand their knowledge and comprehension of competent mental health and substance abuse services for marginalized communities.
“There is a growing need for family therapists to step into marginalized communities,” said Dr. Sara Blakeslee Salkil, program director in the online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program. “The FAHS Minority Fellowship Program is not only nationally recognized but also an extraordinary honor for our students who see their vocational purpose aligned with serving underserved populations.”
Lyssa Chandler’s acceptance into this prestigious fellowship marks the first recipient of ACU’s online Marriage and Family Therapy program.
“We have some of the best students this state has to offer,” said Dr. Stephen Johnson, chief executive officer of ACU Dallas. “Our Marriage and Family Therapy program has always produced stellar graduates and therapists who have changed the world as we know it. We applaud Ms. Chandler, and look forward to her future endeavors.”
Working hand-in-hand with AAMFT and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the fellowship program offers financial support and professional guidance to its recipients in order to further uphold the academic success of future marriage and family therapists. Recognized by the White House Administration, the program has also allowed for an influx of recruiting more students willing to serve underrepresented, and minority communities as mental health providers.
“I am extremely honored to have Lyssa Chandler, one of my students and mentees, to be a model representative on behalf of ACU as she continues her educational journey,” said Dr. Maxine Notice, professor in the online Marriage and Family Therapy program. “We are excited to see more of our students recognized on the national stage.”
ACU Online’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the gold standard of accrediting bodies from programs producing licensed marriage and family therapists. Combining practical training in couple, family and child therapy, mental illness, substance abuse and addiction, with emphasis placed on assessment and diagnostic processes, the program allows students to specialize their degree within one of four concentrations, while simultaneously gaining real-world experience to sit for the Marriage and Family Therapy National Examination.