#  Training Massachusetts Frontline Providers in Adolescent Mental Health Care 

 



An ongoing project (2026-Present).

### The Aim of the Study:

Building on the success of the **Lone Star Prize**, which trained 500 providers across Texas in EMPOWER Behavioral Activation (2022-2025), this program identifies adolescent-serving agencies across Massachusetts and trains them in EMPOWER Youth.

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The Background:

Massachusetts, like the rest of the country, faces a shortage of mental health providers for young people, with demand far outpacing the capacity of specialized care. Frontline workers in schools, community organizations, and other youth-serving settings are well-positioned to extend the reach of evidence-based care when equipped with the right training. This project applies the task-sharing model proven effective through the Lone Star Prize to serve adolescents across the Commonwealth.

### The Project Plan:

The HMS team partners with interested organizations to identify adolescent-serving providers for EMPOWER Youth training. Training support is provided at no cost. Any interested organization is invited to reach out to the project team to enroll in the online course.

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Supporters and Project Duration:

The development of the EMPOWER Youth Intervention was funded by the **Manton Foundation**. This project is funded by **Missy Carter** (2026).

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Next Steps:

Identified trainees are invited to enroll, at no cost, in the EMPOWER Youth digital training. The HMS team supports organizations by offering information sessions, providing weekly coaching and tech troubleshooting, and working directly with leadership to plan for future implementation of EMPOWER Youth within Massachusetts school and community settings.

### Publications: 

- March 2026: [The design of a scalable intervention for adolescents with internalizing problems](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pguI3CGMj8FsFLd_ZXNEE7rFBqJP6lPH/view?usp=sharing)
- 2025: [Addressing the Adolescent Mental Health-Care Gap in the United States](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u8jP-2D9DYYuq2QXzjTjxQT25iiFFvM2/view?usp=sharing)