Through research-based, learner-centered, innovative, holistic support and collaboration with P-12 educators, IU faculty play a vital role in maintaining a continuous pipeline of educators, counseling, student service personnel, and school leaders prepared to address the challenges of P-12 education.
6,000Student contacts in the first year
73Suicide assessments conducted
60Violent incident interventions
443Group counseling sessions offered
With only 24 certified Community Mental Health Centers serving Indiana, all 92 counties in the state are federally designated as areas with mental health service shortages. The provider-to-student ratios in Indiana schools are alarmingly high: 2,700 students per school psychologist, 1,829 students per social worker, and 694 students per counselor. These figures far exceed the recommended ratios of 1:250 for counselors and social workers and 1:500 for psychologists.
Recognizing the urgent needs of Indiana’s youth, Indiana University has launched two initiatives to fill this gap by training and placing mental health professionals directly in high-need school districts.
The first initiative, the Mental Health Service Professional Capacity Building Program, is a partnership between the IU School of Social Work and public schools. Led by Barbara Pierce, this program trains Master of Social Work students to deliver immediate mental health services while gaining practicum experience. Students who complete the program receive a special Indiana Department of Education certification, enhancing their employability in schools.
These social worker candidates contact thousands of students each year, often the first mental health professionals they have ever encountered.
IU East, IU Kokomo, and IU South Bend implemented the initiative “Addressing Regional School Psychologist Shortages Through IU-School Partnerships.” This hybrid school psychology degree program accommodates working adults and, alongside the Mental Health Service Capacity Building Program, is part of IU’s comprehensive strategy to enhance mental health support across Indiana.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant, the program has hired faculty, reopened the IU South Bend Community Counseling Clinic, and started two cohorts totaling 22 graduate students. Led by Jennifer McNeany at IU Kokomo and Melody Marley at IU East, the initiative aims to train and place new school psychologists over the grant period, directly benefiting thousands of P-12 students and addressing mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
Both initiatives create a sustainable pipeline of professionals by offering mental health career exploration programs for graduate students. Online, hybrid, and in-person courses and continuing education opportunities make specialized training accessible across Indiana.
Since 2016, the District-Based Alternative Certification (DBAC) program has filled district needs by providing a path for school employees with bachelor’s degrees to become licensed teachers without leaving their current roles.
The initiative is led by Paula Magee and integrates paid student teaching into existing staff positions, so candidates fulfill licensure requirements while maintaining their income. Participants enroll in a graduate program and are halfway to earning a master’s degree in education when they complete the DBAC program. Graduates experience significant professional growth, transitioning from hourly roles to salaried teaching positions with leadership potential.
We value our partnership with IU Indianapolis and the DBAC program. Our staff can obtain their teaching license, continue in their school role, receive rigorous instruction from IU Indianapolis professors, while working side by side mentor teachers. That combination produces outstanding teachers who are ready to step into their own classroom and be successful.
Kyle Fessler, Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township deputy human resources officer
DBAC fosters diversity, with 75-80% of participants being people of color. This model supports participants financially and enriches classrooms with educators connected to their communities.
The program is very flexible, offering evening courses held on-site at partner schools which allows participants—instructional assistants, bus drivers, and other support staff—to balance work and study effectively. School administrators love the program because it retains dedicated staff who are already invested in student success, which strengthens the educational fabric of their districts.
6,500Students reached in 2024
48Student-focused school visits
23Educator-focused school visits
24Community events
A revolution on wheels is transforming education and entrepreneurship across Indiana. The Uplands Maker Mobile, a collaboration between IU Bloomington, Infosys Foundation, and Regional Opportunity Initiatives, is bringing the power of “making” directly to Hoosier schools. This mobile makerspace is more than a vehicle laden with cutting-edge tools; it’s a catalyst for creativity, learning, and economic growth.
At its core, the Uplands Maker Mobile focuses on educational outreach. By providing hands-on access to equipment like laser cutters and 3D printers, the program fosters creativity and problem-solving skills in P-12 students, preparing them for future challenges.
Inspired by leading educational philosophies, the Uplands Maker Mobile provides diverse learning experiences—from sewing and woodworking to robotics and music—allowing every student to find their niche and develop essential skills like analytical thinking, collaboration, resilience, and more. Teachers also benefit, from receiving professional development and coaching to learn how to incorporate making into their curricula, ensuring a sustainable maker culture within schools.
Beyond classrooms, the Uplands Maker Mobile specializes in partnering with community organizations to set up temporary makerspaces and collaborates with co-working spaces and economic development groups to support adults and entrepreneurs.
In short, the Uplands Maker Mobile is not just about the tools it carries but the opportunities it creates—bridging gaps, fostering collaboration, and propelling Indiana into a brighter, more innovative future.
The partnership exemplifies Indiana University’s commitment to democratizing technology access, enhancing education, and promoting economic development—fulfilling its mission to serve and strengthen communities.
