Dave Long, Vice President of Family Services at Lifeline, Amy Gilbert, Graduate Counseling Chair at Grace, Mark Terrell, CEO of Lifeline, William Katip, President of Grace and Tom Edgington, Dean of School of Behavioral Science at Grace.

WINONA LAKE — Grace College announced a new partnership with Lifeline Youth & Family Services and Crosswinds yesterday, Aug. 31. The partnership was made to address the growing demand for graduate clinical mental health professionals in the community.

With this new partnership, each year 15 students in Grace’s graduate counseling department will be selected to participate in the partnership. Those selected will receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement, hands on learning experiences and a guaranteed job after graduation.

Lifeline Youth & Family Services offers home-based counseling and residential treatment for teens, including family casework, therapy, supervised visitations and help for families struggling to overcome their past. Lifeline is committed to helping families become stronger and more independent.

“We are very excited about this relationship and partnership,” said Mark Terrell, Lifeline CEO.

Terrell said that in just the past year Lifeline’s work has grown 40 percent. This large growth means there’s a larger demand for qualified workers, like graduates of Grace’s program.

“Being able to hook students up with an employer immediately after graduation is huge,” said Amy Gilbert, Graduate Counseling chair at Grace.

The partnership also will provide employees of Lifeline who have not had the time or money to pursue a degree the chance to attend Grace while continuing to work. The majority of the student’s for this year’s program have already been chosen, but each year 15 new students will be selected for the program.

Mark Terrell, CEO of Lifeline and William Katip, President of Grace College sign the paperwork for the partnership.