Welcome to The Expanding Opportunities Project
This project is currently under new management. We are honored to continue all the great work that has been done and excited to begin working with all of you in support of New Mexico's children, schools, and communities!
If this is your first time applying for an EOP stipend, please fill out this questionnaire before requesting any funding. This questionnaire is a one-time form. If you have already filled one out, there is no need to submit multiple forms. If you have already completed the questionnaire, you may apply for funding by clicking on Funding Requests above and following the instructions on that page.
Project Goal
The Expanding Opportunities Project aims to recruit and retain school-based mental health (SBMH) providers to serve the needs of students across New Mexico, focusing on rural and frontier communities with a high percentage of at-risk and vulnerable student populations.
We have the highest respect for school-based mental health providers and the journey it takes to become one. This project will provide funding to support qualified participants who are already SBMH providers in New Mexico or are on the road to becoming one.
Project Source
The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED), Safe and Healthy Schools Bureau, was awarded a USDE grant to increase the number and quality of school-based mental health (SBMH) providers in high-need schools. By partnering with NM schools, universities, Native American communities, and other state agencies, the EOP will increase the number of SBMH providers and access to care for school-aged youth in identified communities.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
- NM graduate students who are enrolled in a regionally accredited behavioral health program. These students must also be willing to certify that they will work in a NM, rural, high-need school for at least 24 months after graduation and provide supporting documentation. *The majority of NM cities and communities are considered rural and high-need. See below for exceptions.
- NM licensed school-based mental health (SBMH) providers who have been employed in a NM rural, high-need school for at least one year. These professionals must also be willing to certify that they will continue working in a rural, high-need school for at least 24 more months and provide supporting documentation.
What Schools Are Considered Rural & High-Need?
Due to the urban makeup of the locations, schools in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe are not eligible. Private schools are also not qualifying schools. All other New Mexico Schools serving K–12 students would qualify as rural and high-need. This includes public, charter, and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.
What Funding is Available to Qualified Participants?
*Please note that all funding received from this program is considered taxable income.
All funding requests will require supporting documentation and commitment to work in a qualified, NM school as a mental health professional for at least 24 months (after graduation for students or going forward for current professionals).
EOP is in its last year of the five-year grant award period. Applications are now open and will close on August 29, 2025. *Funding is limited and first come, first serve to qualifying applicants. Be sure to check on this webpage under “What Funding is Available to Qualified Participants” for year five changes..
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Graduate Students
Academic Support Incentive
Qualifying participants can now receive up to $9,000 (yearly maximum) of Academic Support! $750 per eligible course (up to four courses per semester). *Academic Support funding is limited and first come, first serve to qualifying applicants.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in a regionally accredited behavioral health program. Transcripts downloaded from the university website are acceptable.
- EOP participants must provide a copy of their full transcripts for eligibility determination. Transcripts downloaded from the university website are acceptable.
- Eligible courses must be behavioral health courses that are graduate level or above and show at least three credits earned.
- Must attest to work in an EOP school providing school-based mental health services to students for at least two years after graduation.
- Students may apply for eligible courses completed up to one year prior to application date.
Required Documentation:
- EOP participants must provide a copy of their full transcripts for eligibility determination.
Internship/Practicum Placement Stipends
Qualifying EOP participants can receive a $5,000 stipend for completing a practicum/internship via a partnering university placement (in an EOP-approved high-need school/district). EOP participants may claim a maximum of two qualifying stipends for a total of $10,000! *Internship/Practicum funding is limited and first come, first serve to qualifying applicants.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in a regionally accredited behavioral health program.
- Eligible practicum/internships must be graduate level or above and show as completed successfully on a transcript.
- Internship/Practicum must be completed in an EOP-eligible school in a school-based mental health role.
- Must attest to work in an EOP school providing school-based mental health services to students for at least two years after graduation.
- Students may apply for eligible internships/practicums completed up to one year prior to application date.
Required Documentation:
- EOP participants must provide a copy of their full transcripts for eligibility determination. Transcripts downloaded from the university website are acceptable.
- Applicants must provide proof of internship/practicum location. Examples of acceptable proof include an email from your worksite supervisor confirming your worksite location and dates, a signed, official letter from your worksite supervisor confirming your worksite location and dates, or official documentation from your university stating your worksite location and dates.
Licensure Reimbursement
EOP participants applying for their initial school-based mental health license can apply to receive up to $300 in licensure reimbursement once they have obtained the license. To qualify for reimbursement, applicants must provide itemized receipts for the exam fee and licensure fee, plus their new license. If the $300 cap has not been met, applicants may also include receipts for official study materials. Applicants may not claim study materials without a corresponding exam and license fee.
*Licensure reimbursement is for initial licenses only. License renewals are not eligible for reimbursement.
*Study materials must be official publications or online resources specified for the license.
NM Licensed School-Based Mental Health Providers
Salary Enhancement Stipend
Eligible applicants may apply to receive a Salary Enhancement Stipend of $2,000. You may continue to apply for this stipend once per year for the life of the project. The amount of the stipend will increase by $500 each additional year for the life of the grant. *Salary Enhancement funding is limited and first come, first serve to qualifying applicants.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Eligible job titles include social worker, counselor, psychologist, and applied behavior analyst.
- Has worked at an EOP-qualified school as a social worker, counselor, psychologist, or applied behavior analyst for at least one year.
- Provides direct mental health services (counseling and or therapy) to students.
- Has a master’s degree or higher.
- Eligible participants cannot earn more than $80,000 as a full-time employee annually.
- Must attest to work in an EOP school providing school-based mental health services to students for at least two additional years.
*Applicants may apply once per year. Applicants whose annual application date falls between September 2025 to December 2025 may apply in August 2025 to meet the year-five application deadline. However, if Salary Enhancement funding runs out, applicants whose annual application date falls in August 2025 or before will be prioritized.
Licensure Reimbursement
EOP participants applying for their initial school-based mental health license can apply to receive up to $300 in licensure reimbursement once they have obtained the license. To qualify for reimbursement, applicants must provide itemized receipts for the exam fee and licensure fee, plus their new license. If the $300 cap has not been met, applicants may also include receipts for official study materials. Applicants may not claim study materials without a corresponding exam and license fee.
*Licensure reimbursement is for initial licenses only. License renewals are not eligible for reimbursement.
*Study materials must be official publications or online resources specified for the license.
