Family Service of the Chautauqua Region officials are pictured near its Jamestown headquarters.

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region has been awarded a grant from the Blue Fund of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to establish a new psychologist training program.

The initiative will bring a post-doctoral psychology internship to Chautauqua County in an attempt to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the Southern Tier and reduce patient waiting lists.

The training program is part of FSCR’s long-term strategy to attract highly qualified pre-doctoral and post-doctoral psychology candidates to the program, improving access to essential mental health services and diagnostic testing for local children and adults. The Blue Fund, a grant program focused on improving community health, is supporting the effort to expand the mental health workforce.

The funding will support Family Service in developing a formal training structure to attract future psychology candidates. Family Service of the Chautauqua Region is a United Way partner agency.