EDUCATION IS EVERYTHING –

June 18, 2021 – At the same time, there are gaping racial disparities in access to the addiction care community that itself suffers from a dearth of diversity nationwide.

“Substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders do not discriminate across race, age, creed, gender or nationality, and it is vital to provide care that represents and reflects all of the people who need and may seek help,” said Ahmed Eid, director of Hazelden Betty Ford’s treatment center in Naples, Fla.; co-chair of its national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; and alumnus of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School. “Preparing more students of color to be counselors will help treatment providers offer more culturally competent care to more people, and enable more patients to receive treatment and care from counselors who look like them—a factor that influences outcomes.”

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Trustee Bill Parker and his wife Anne established the Hope Scholarship Fund and invite others to help build and grow the fund.

“We are deeply grateful to the Parkers for establishing the Hope Scholarship that will encourage more people to consider the addiction counseling field,” said Valerie Slaymaker, PhD, chief academic officer and provost of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. “It takes a special person to answer the call to counsel, and it is a big commitment to enter any graduate program. This scholarship removes some of the financial barriers so these future addiction and mental health counselors can focus on their studies and goals.”

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