A new partnership between Riley Children's Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, and the University of Evansville (UE) will expand mental health training and care across Southwest Indiana, the institutions jointly announced Friday during Be the Light: A Celebration of Hope.

In addition to announcing the new collaboration, the event brought together university officials, donors, and community partners to honor the individuals and families whose philanthropy has made a lasting impact on UE's growing mental health initiatives.

The new Riley partnership, spearheaded by longtime university and Riley benefactors Lisa and Bob Jones, includes the creation of a Psychology Practicum at Riley Children's Health/IU School of Medicine and an Annual Psychology Symposium that will unite behavioral health professionals, faculty, and students from Riley and the Evansville community. Together, these efforts will provide UE Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) students with valuable clinical experience and help address the growing need for youth mental and behavioral health services.

"Every child deserves access to compassionate, expert mental health care and that begins with training and supporting the professionals who will provide it," said Leslie Hulvershorn, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Riley Children's Health and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine. "Thanks to Bob and Lisa Jones and their generous gift, this partnership gives future psychologists hands-on experience while meeting an urgent need. It's a meaningful step toward brighter futures for children and families across Indiana."

The donation is part of the Riley Children's Foundation Every Child Deserves Riley $300 million comprehensive fundraising campaign. A key priority of the campaign includes enhancing access to evidence-based youth mental health services.

Bob Jones is a Riley Children's Foundation board member and will be stepping down this year after 20 years of distinguished service. Jones also served as Chair of the UE Board of Trustees prior to transitioning from the role earlier this year.

As part of Friday's announcements, UE also revealed that the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program will now be named the Koch Family Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program, honoring the visionary generosity of the Koch family. Their foundational support in 2021 has inspired a powerful network of partnerships, helping to expand mental health access, education, and clinical training across the region.

In loving memory of Emily M. Young, daughter of Judge Richard L. and Roseann Young, Lisa and Bob Jones generously provided a lead gift to establish the Emily M. Young Assessment Center within the UE Mental Health and Wellness Clinic in 2023. During Friday's celebration, UE also announced the rededication of the clinic and the assessment center as the UE Emily M. Young Mental Health Clinic, recognizing Emily's legacy and the continued leadership philanthropy of the Jones family.

Philanthropy has fueled every stage of UE's expanding impact in this area.

"The generosity of the Jones family, the Koch family, and so many others continues to create pathways of hope-honoring lives, strengthening communities, and preparing the next generation of compassionate mental health professionals," said University President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. "The event served as both reflection and renewal, celebrating lives lost to mental illness, uplifting families who continue to advocate for change, and recognizing the collective hope made possible through community support and collaboration."

The University has also launched the Be the Light Fund, ensuring the UE Emily M. Young Mental Health Clinic can continue its vital work for years to come. With the support of our partners and philanthropic donors, UE will continue transforming lives through education and service, leading with compassion and a shared commitment to the mental health and well-being of all.

In a landmark dedication ceremony on Friday, the University of Evansville (UE) proudly introduced its cutting-edge Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, solidifying its commitment to addressing critical mental health challenges in the Evansville community. This groundbreaking initiative, developed in collaboration with Easterseals, includes the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, a comprehensive facility equipped to provide advanced therapy and assessment services.

"UE's Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our Evansville community," said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, President of the University of Evansville. "This state-of-the-art facility, along with the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, marks a significant stride towards a brighter and promising future for individuals and families grappling with mental health concerns."

At the heart of the clinic is the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, a specialized facility furnished with cutting-edge equipment and materials essential for sophisticated testing. This includes computers, software, recording devices, white noise machines, and testing kits. The Assessment Center will play a central role in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions by offering a range of assessment measures, including outcome questionnaires, personality testing, psychopathology measures, and cognitive functioning assessments. The center is named in honor of the late Emily Young, the daughter of the Honorable Richard L. and Roseann Young.

Operated by 10-15 students annually from the University of Evansville's Doctor of Psychology clinical degree program, under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist, the clinic will provide crucial therapy and assessment services to the Evansville community. The services, offered on a monthly basis, will focus on conditions such as ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, intellectual functioning, and personality functioning.

"The Emily M. Young Assessment Center serves as an invaluable resource for the Evansville community, addressing the pressing need for comprehensive mental health assessments for both children and adults," noted Pietruszkiewicz. "This educational training clinic will play a pivotal role in not only diagnosing psychological disorders but also in guiding effective treatment, ultimately contributing to the overall mental health and well-being of our community."

Community members interested in giving to the Mental Health and Wellness Clinic can visit www.uealumnionline.com/mentalhealth.

The University of Evansville's (UE) Multidisciplinary Mental Health and Wellness Clinic has received a $750,000 state award for the development of their community-based clinic.

The funding is part of the Evansville region's READI Awards Initiative managed by the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) in partnership with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP). Indiana's READI funds work toward improving the quality of place, quality of life, and quality of opportunity within their communities.

"This multidisciplinary clinic is part of the University's larger vision of community outreach that will increase the quality of life for our community members. Faculty and students from multiple health disciplines will work and learn together to improve how we deliver health care while also gaining valuable experience in their chosen field," said Mary Kessler, Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences. "Our goal is to provide UE students with transformational educational and clinical experiences, which will improve their overall competency while also assisting the Evansville region with increasing and retaining needed health care providers in the local workforce."

In the fall of 2023, UE will admit its first cohort of graduate students for the newly developed Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program. A key component of the PsyD program is the development of a community-based clinic where PsyD students and faculty provide psychotherapy and psychological testing to clients with mental health problems.

"The RDA continues to award READI funds to projects that align with our community's vision called Talent EVV," said Tara Barney, CEO of the E-REP. "Including this investment, over $8.7 million of READI funds have been awarded to projects within the health and life sciences cluster, which leverages nearly $77 million in total investment. The UE Multidisciplinary Mental Health and Wellness Clinic further supports our region's growing health and life sciences cluster while providing a valuable service to our community."

With the use of the READI funds, the PsyD program will grow its capacity to admit new students and ultimately increase the number of clinical psychologists and physician assistants who stay and work in the Evansville area upon graduation.

UE will be able to embed a physician assistant in the clinic to provide medication management for mental health conditions under the supervision of a licensed physician or psychiatrist. It will also increase opportunities for physician assistants and nursing students to apply what they are learning in class in actual practice.

The facility will be located directly across Lincoln Avenue at the site of Talbot Square, which was purchased by the University.

Approximately 5,000 square feet of the Old National Bank space will be renovated into the new clinic. The facility will incorporate office space, conference rooms, ten individual therapy rooms, and a larger space for group therapy.

Construction is expected to begin sometime in late April and continue through the summer months until an anticipated final completion date in August 2023.

The University of Evansville has received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission for its PsyD in Clinical Psychology program. With full approval granted, UE is now accepting applications for the five-year doctoral program. It will commence in the Fall of 2023 with a cohort of 15 students. 

Mental health is a growing issue not only in the tri-state but across the nation. According to the Center for Workforce Studies, there are only 19 clinical psychologists per 100,000 people in Indiana, which is much less than other parts of the country. Providing this program in Evansville will help increase mental health services for all ages, and PsyD graduates may remain in the area long-term as well. In the state, the demand for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is projected to grow 18.5 percent over the next five years, which is much faster than other occupations. 

“We spent more than a year meeting with community leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force,” said Michael Austin, PhD, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We asked, ‘what is the most important thing that the University of Evansville can do to address mental health issues in our community?’ Repeatedly, the answer was a need for more people on the ground providing quality care. The PsyD program was specifically developed to meet this need.” 

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology program provides a pathway for individuals who want to become a clinical psychologist. Students will gain discipline-specific knowledge and clinical core competencies as well as supervised experiences in increasingly complex settings. Coursework will span the areas of psychopathology, research methods, ethics, diversity, and more. 

“I am excited for what the future holds for UE and its PsyD program,” said Kevin Jordan, PhD, associate professor and director of clinical psychology. “The students and faculty in the PsyD program will provide clinical services in the greater Evansville area that are much needed. Students who graduate from our program will be well equipped to have a fulfilling career as a clinical psychologist.” 

As they work toward their doctoral degree, students will also earn a master’s degree upon completing their second year of the program. In addition to coursework, clinical experiences, and internship, students will complete an empirical dissertation that contributes to the knowledge base of clinical psychology. 

The first four years of the PsyD program will be on campus. In their second and third years, students will see clients of all ages with a variety of different presenting concerns at a new UE community-based mental health clinic at Talbot Square. During years three and four, students will also be placed in local clinical settings (e.g., Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, Deaconess Health System, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, Evansville State Hospital) to acquire additional training. The fifth year is clinical internship in which students enroll in a match process that places them in an American Psychological Association approved internship site in the United States or Canada. Upon conclusion of their clinical internship and approval of their dissertation, students will earn the PsyD in Clinical Psychology.