ACT Program Fee: The necessary conversation about money

The Barriers

During our development and design process, we learned from the communities of IECMH providers that finances posed as the leading barrier for participation. Time commitment was the second barrier that we can do less about to achieve our goals to expand, diversify, train, and retain/sustain a relationship-centered, empirically informed, culturally-responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, healing-forward, and developmentally focused IECMH workforce. In our effort to address the financial barriers, we utilize an equity approach to support the program costs. Some of us are able to contribute more than others to the program fees. Any contributions made toward program fees support ongoing operations as well as request for support for program fees and travel expenses for those who face inequitable financial barriers.

Full + Subsidized Program Fees

The true cost of the program is $20,000. We welcome anyone who can contribute the full program fee for the 15-month program to do so in abundance. We ask institutions and organizations interested in enrolling staff for training to consider contributing the full program fee per participant, however, most of us — individuals, organizations, or institutions — are not able to contribute the full program fee for participation. With the generous support of private foundations and public systems partners, we are able to offer a subsidized program fee of $8,000 to Washington applicants. If program fees are a concern for you, we ask that you to make us aware of those concerns so that we might find ways to support you further through available Program Fee Waivers (more below).

The Process

Once notified of acceptance into the program, applicants will have 14 business days to accept and submit $500 of the initial payment as a deposit to hold the seat as an enrolled ACT clinician in the program. Instructions will be provided in the Notice of Acceptance. Not meeting this payment and enrollment steps within the 14-business day period will constitute the release of that seat in the ACT Program to another applicant. If the program fee will be covered by a 3rd party (e.g., agency) that cannot meet these deadlines, it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact and discuss an alternative plan with the Program Director, Dr. Nucha Isarowong.

If an enrolled ACT participant chooses to withdraw from the program after submitting acceptance and enrollment forms and first payment to the Barnard Center, the letter of withdrawal must be submitted to the program director in writing following instructions that will be provided in the Notification of Acceptance. Letters of withdrawal received 1-7 days after the deposit payment was received will be fully refunded. Letters of withdrawal received more than 7 days after the enrollment forms and first payment are received up to and including Monday, March 23, 2026, regardless of cause, will receive reimbursement of one-half (1/2) of the deposit payment ($250). No portion of the first payment will be reimbursed if the letter of withdrawal is submitted after March 23, 2026, regardless of cause.

The remaining $1,500 of the first payment is due Monday, April 27, 2026; the second payment of $3,000 is due Monday, September 28, 2026 (Month 5); and the third payment of $3,000 is due Monday, February 22, 2027 (Month 10).