Grant Funded Programs and Scholarships

Grant Funded Programs, Scholarships, Tuition Referral Program and Recruitment

ACAP is offering a Tuition Referral Program.

It is a simple program that can benefit everyone and help our school grow in the process. If you refer a new student who subsequently enrolls in one or more certificate level classes at ACAP, you and the new student will receive a 50% tuition credit toward one future course. This offer applies to new students in the ACAP Certificate program who have never taken a course at ACAP (including the one-year program). The new student must register and complete the semester in order for the credit to apply.

So why are we offering this program?

When we surveyed our students, faculty and graduates to examine all the avenues by which people come to enroll at ACAP we discovered the number one path is through a personal connection to a member of the ACAP community. So we are asking you to reach out to friends, relatives and colleagues and bring them into our life changing community. We will all benefit: you, your friends and our school.

If you have any questions about the Student Referral Program, please feel free to contact us. We also welcome hearing any ideas you might have for the growth and prosperity of ACAP.

ACAP scholarships tuition assistance and grants

Now offering a 20% tuition discount to staff at mental health agencies on BGSP-NJ’s Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Click on each tab below to learn more!

Dircks Tuition Assistance program

The Joining Forces Tuition Assistance Program was developed by The Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP), to provide administrators, health center workers, clinicians, teachers and anyone who works with vulnerable populations with greater accessibility to the opportunity to participate in ACAP’s programs through tuition assistance. The program has made ACAP a more diverse and community responsive psychoanalytic institute, linking our training directly to those who are interfacing with the most needy populations and sites.

Joining Forces (JF) originated through a partnership between the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and ACAP. The program has been funded by the Robert and Joan Dircks Foundation since 2009. Joining Forces tuition assistance is an up to half (50%) tuition grant award. The JF tuition assistance grant is applied towards any of ACAP programs with the exception of the Clinical Supervision Course.

Candidates are eligible if he or she:

serves a socially, psychologically, cognitively, or medically vulnerable population;
is enrolled in the one year program, ACAP’s conferences, TRS program or an ACAP certificate program course;
is in the first three semesters of the ACAP certificate program.

Tuition assistance grants are not available to certificate program students after the third semester of study.

To apply, the candidate must:

complete an application and registration form for the program of choice;
become accepted, if required, and registered with the ACAP administrative office for the course;
complete and submit a tuition assistance form documenting eligibility criteria to the tuition assistance committee
pay the remaining balance towards the course before tuition assistance will be applied to the student’s account.

Tuition Assistance applications that are reviewed and approved will result in a letter or e-mail stating the amount granted and the course that the tuition assistance covers or the applicant will be contacted regarding ineligibility. Tuition assistance does not make a student ineligible for work study or other ACAP programs or assistance. It is not financial aid and does not require repayment. ACAP appreciates participants’ letters of appreciation that are submitted to directly to the funder to encourage continued support or participation in volunteer activities at ACAP.

Tuition assistance is not always available and is based on Funding availability, funders’ restrictions and eligibility guidelines. Additional questions can be directed to the Tuition Assistance Committee at [email protected].

Guidelines and application (pdf)

Sandra L. Newman Memorial Scholarship

Description/mission: The Sandra L. Newman Memorial Scholarship was founded in memory by her family. Mrs. Newman hoped to open access to mental health services through the training of additional mental health professionals. As a local community leader, she was a fierce advocate of helping others fulfill their potential. This scholarship will be awarded to a student in the ACAP Certificate program. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students who have educational and financial needs. ACAP students are invited to apply.

Past Winner: Farah Merzier-Baudin

Watch Video of Farah Merzier-Baudin

When Farah Merzier-Baudin received a recruitment brochure 3 years ago, she was intrigued, but the timing wasn’t right. A mother of 3, she works in a challenging job as a school counselor in urban Irvington, New Jersey. Despite raising her children and working full-time, she earned a master in school counseling and guidance services, in 2013, and a doctorate in education psychology, in 2023. Now, as a newly-enrolled student at ACAP, she has begun working toward the credential of licensed professional counselor (LPS), and is taking classes virtually in the evening. She began her fieldwork last summer. Her long term plan is to have her own private practice within the next ten years, specializing in marriage and family counseling. She adds, “You have to keep moving and learning to help others.”

Donation Link

Scholarship Application Form

Link to Flier

Gordon Ashworth Memorial Scholarship

Description/mission: The Gordon Ashworth Memorial Scholarship was founded in his memory by his wife, Dr. Judy Ashworth. This scholarship will be awarded to students in the ACAP Certificate program. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students who have educational and financial needs. ACAP students are invited to apply.

History: Judy and Gordon Ashworth were inspired by the ACAP mission and Judy decided to create this scholarship in memory of her husband, Gordon Ashworth. Gordon was always interested in psychoanalysis and the schools’ Rev-Bembry-Gordon-Ashworth-Memorial-Scholarship_winner missions. He was a part of the learning community at ACAP and is remembered with love.

Past Winner: Rev. Glenmore Bembry

“ACAP continues to support my training in the Certificate program as a Baptist faith leader. I am grateful to have been a recipient of this scholarship as I move closer to my graduation! The G. Ashworth scholarship has helped me in my training with ACAP.”

– Rev. Dr. Glenmore Bembry, past G. Ashworth Memorial Scholarship winner.

Donation Link

Scholarship Application Form

Link to Flier

Bilingual Scholars Award

Description/mission: The Bilingual Scholarship was founded by Jeffrey Rosenberg, Esq. His mission is to support bilingual students. This scholarship will be awarded to a new bilingual or multilingual student in the ACAP’s Certificate program. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students who have educational financial needs. ACAP students are invited to apply.

History: This new scholarship was created to meet the mental health needs of underserved and multilingual communities, ACAP is focused on supporting the need for bilingual people to train as mental health professionals. Scholarship support is vital for these students who lack the financial resources necessary to pursue their education. This scholarship is designed to support mental health professionals whose own lived experience aligns with that of underserved individuals and communities.

Testimonial/Quote: Dr. Cassio Campello

“As someone who learned English as a second language, I understand how much language influences our thoughts, feelings, and connections with others. In therapy, being able to express yourself in a language that feels comfortable can really change the game when it comes to feeling understood. That’s why this scholarship is such a wonderful initiative—it helps support bilingual therapists who can connect with clients on a deeper level by bridging those cultural and language gaps. It’s not just about the words we use; it’s about feeling truly heard in the way that resonates with us the most!”

– Dr. Cassio Campello, ACAP Student

Donation Link

Scholarship Application Form

Link to Flier

Next Gen Scholarship

Description/mission: The Next Gen Scholarship was founded by a handful of loyal ACAP supporters. This scholarship will be awarded to incoming students in the ACAP Certificate program. The purpose of this scholarship is to attract and retain students including those who require financial assistance. Incoming ACAP students are invited to apply.

Testimonials/history/other information: Recognizing the growing need for psychoanalytically trained therapists in today’s world and the rising cost of a solid psychoanalytic training program, our institute has to ensure the affordability and lower the barriers to entry and open up the field to new professionals.

Student Testimonial: Isa Johansen

“Over the past five years, I have been a grateful recipient of the scholarships offered by ACAP. My desire to pursue my education came at a financially inopportune time for my family. The oldest of our four children was in his first year at a private university. We would not have been able to afford to send him without the generous need-based financial aid we received from his college. Likewise, we knew we would have to rely on scholarships and need-based financial aid to put our other three children through college.

The scholarship awards I received made it possible for me to pursue an education alongside my children — an education that has changed the trajectory of my life, both professionally and personally. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all past and future donors to the Next Gen Scholarship Fund. Your generosity enables life-long learners like me to pursue this unique and transformative mental health training! ” – Isa Johansen, current ACAP student

Donation Link

Scholarship Application Form

Link to Flier