About

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I am honored to serve as the Director of the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Social Work’s Inclusive TEAMS program. Inclusive TEAMS was created to address persistent and deeply concerning disparities in behavioral health care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families. These inequities show up across diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes. They are reflected in trends such as the overdiagnosis of Black youth with behavioral disorders, disproportionate involvement of Black youth in child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and rising rates of suicidality among LGBTQIA+ youth. Inclusive TEAMS is committed to preparing direct practice MSW students with specialized training in culturally responsive care that directly responds to these disparities.

Identity-affirming mental health services are essential to ensuring individuals feel understood, respected, and validated in their lived experiences. Research continues to show that clients, particularly those from marginalized communities, are more likely to engage in services and experience positive outcomes when their providers share, acknowledge, or demonstrate a strong understanding of their identities. Inclusive TEAMS emphasizes cultural humility, cultural competence, and the ability to tailor care to each client’s unique needs and strengths. We believe effective mental health care requires not only recognizing the barriers people face, but also honoring the resilience and wisdom that identity and community can foster.

Through practicum placements in agencies serving diverse populations and ongoing professional development opportunities, Inclusive TEAMS equips students to become skilled and compassionate social workers. Our goal is to strengthen the behavioral health workforce across North Carolina and improve outcomes for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families through care that is ethical, responsive, and rooted in equity.

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~Michelle Chambers-Rollins, PhD, MSW, LCSW, LCAS

The goal of Inclusive TEAMS (Inclusive Treatment, Empowerment, Assessments, Mentorship and Social Work Services) is to diversify the workforce and provide specialized training for UNC School of Social Work students working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families. Since the program’s founding in 2023, nine UNC-Chapel Hill Master of Social Work students have completed the program and 21 students are currently being trained in culturally responsive care, providing over 18,000 hours of direct practice service to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families in North Carolina. We look forward to expanding our impact as we grow our program in the years to come.

Racial disparities in mental health persist – in diagnosing, treatment, and outcomes. For instance, Black youth are often over diagnosed with behavioral disorders and have higher rates of involvement in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. There are mental health disparities among LGBTQIA+ youth; they are four times more likely to consider suicide. Something needs to be done to address these disparities. We are thankful for the Duke Endowment grant to our Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that we can address these disparities and equip our students with specialized training. The specialized training received in Inclusive TEAMS will assist students in providing culturally appropriate services.

Inclusive TEAMS supports and prepares MSW students to Behavioral Health services to BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ youth in underserved NC communities through the following components:

• Provide $10,000 stipends for final year direct practice students in practicum placements serving BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families
• Provide a $2,500 career start-up stipend if upon graduation the student is employed by an agency or organization that serves the target population in an underserved county in North Carolina 
• Provide mentoring and career coaching to support student personal and professional development during their final year Provide Specialized Training
• Offer workshops developed with collaborative partners
• Develop courses focused on target populations
• Enhance curriculum, continuing education
• Improve cultural knowledge by leading or participating in community service opportunities

We are deeply grateful to the Duke Endowment for their provision of a grant to the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs which has made the Inclusive TEAMS program possible.

Learn more about the Duke Endowment and their contributions to child & family well-being. For information on how to support the Inclusive TEAMS program, please use our Contact Us form.