GPE Didactic Training Spotlight: Integrated Behavioral Health Leadership

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On November 19, 2025, Dr. Nichole Flores and Melissa Lopez provided a one-hour training at Alliant University’s Fresno campus, focused on leadership in integrated behavioral health settings. Dr. Flores serves as the Director of Behavioral Health for Valley Health Team and has held an integral role in establishing mental health services in rural communities. Melissa Lopez also serves in a leadership role at Valley Health Team as the Regional Director of Operations. Valley Health Team is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) servicing Fresno, Tulare, and Inyo Counties. 

The training was open to first, second, and third-year graduate students from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at Alliant University Fresno and aimed to support students in securing leadership positions in integrated behavioral health settings following graduation. 

Dr. Flores opened the training by explaining the role of grant writing for FQHCs. She specifically outlined how grants allow FQHCs to offer services such as special supplemental nutrition programs for women, infants, and children (WIC), counseling, nutrition, dietary, prenatal care, food services, and shelter arrangements for individuals in need. A particular goal for the Behavioral Health Department at Valley Health Team is to provide services at a low cost of $5 per month. Considering Valley Health Team is primarily located in rural communities, this low cost ensures accessibility for mental health treatment and other critical services. 

Dr. Flores also highlighted Valley Health Team’s ability to provide school-based mental health services among rural communities. This opportunity was provided to Valley Health Team by having strong relationships with various rural communities throughout the Central Valley. The presenters noted how these services reduce absenteeism as students are able to visit a clinician on campus rather than being removed from the school to attend appointments. Given the benefits of providing behavioral health services in schools, Valley Health Team is currently searching for opportunities to further implement medical clinicians within these schools as well. 

Within the broader context of leadership in integrated behavioral health, Dr. Flores also highlighted the impact of collaboration among an integrated behavioral health team. She explained the importance of being cross-trained and understanding everyone’s responsibilities (e.g., case managers, receptionists, schedulers, billing, clinicians) and how they equally affect behavioral health departments.

Student attendees reported receiving useful information regarding services offered in integrated behavioral health settings through this training. Students particularly appreciated the openness and conversational style the presenters brought to the training. Trainings like this allow students to gain further knowledge of the administration and leadership aspects of behavioral health centers, supporting the ongoing goal of GPE training—to provide students with knowledge and skills related to integrated behavioral health.

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Brianna Gill is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at Alliant International University, Fresno. As a child of immigrants, she grew up in a rural community in Central California. Her clinical training is supported by a Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that aims to grow the psychology workforce in high-need, high-demand areas.