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OspreyPERCH receives Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration National Award

OspreyPERCH student with a faculty member and a service dogUNF’s Prevention, Early Intervention and Resiliency through Counseling & Holistic Health an Integrative Behavioral Health Clinical Training Program (OspreyPERCH), has received the 2022 Excellence in Interprofessional Education (IPE) Collaboration National Award. This award was presented by the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative.

The Excellence in IPE Collaboration Award is presented to an interprofessional team of health professional students and/or faculty, whose interdisciplinary work has significantly impacted the community they serve. OspreyPERCH is awarded for exemplifying excellence in interprofessional collaboration, highlighting community integration and population health efforts targeting unmet student health needs.

Part of UNF’s Brooks College of Health, OspreyPERCH provides necessary community mental health continuum components to support and enhance the University’s counseling center and student health services. OspreyPERCH offers help that inspires hope and supports all Osprey students as the “PERCH” is a safe place to land especially for those struggling with mental, emotional, behavioral health, conduct or academic issues.

PERCH partners clinical mental health counseling student counselors, social work interns and graduate student interns in nutrition & dietetics and exercise science working with faculty created intervention programs under clinical faculty supervision. The program utilizes a model of primary, secondary and tertiary intervention in an enjoyable, engaging and clinically sound method of meeting the students where they are both figuratively and literally. PERCH providers are embedded in student service departments where students live, work, play and already seek help.

PERCH providers use creative and innovative therapies such as the inclusion of art, music, movement, yoga, nature and adventure-based learning along with canine and equine-assisted therapies to connect and engage students in both traditional and experiential approaches to healing.