Community health, rural counties, and underserved communities struggle to find qualified mental health providers.
Our scholarship program helps bring psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) to communities throughout the state.
Through the generosity of our donors and community partners, the Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to 45 nurse scholars.
In 2026, the Foundation will award up to eight $2,500 scholarships. Foundation scholars will also receive a free one-year Student membership in the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) and a free registration for the AAPPN Annual Conference.
“It is a pleasure to see these new practitioners develop into leaders in the profession.”
Whether in community mental health, private practice, or academia, our scholars are becoming leaders in the profession. As you will read below, Foundation scholars are also giving back to the next generation by serving on the Boards of Directors of Washington State nonprofits and professional associations.
“The Lois Price Spratlen Foundation ensures continued diversity of our professional practice for those most in need of behavioral health care.”
Our scholars are committed to improving equitable mental health care access for underserved communities:
“The Lois Price Spratlen Foundation is an important way for me to help the next generation learn and grow.”
As a Foundation donor, you are part of a community of caring for the next generation of psychiatric ARNPs providing the holistic care to honor the spirit and legacy of Lois Price Spratlen.
Lois was an educator and mentor for psychiatric ARNPs. She pressed for advanced practice psychiatric nurses to foster a culture of sharing in order to educate one another, rather than relying on other disciplines to teach them.
Please join the family of advanced practice psychiatric nurses and mental health advocates who make a difference in the lives of countless vulnerable members of our community.
Scholar Spotlight
Transforming Community Mental Health Care
Carly Williamson, a 2023 Lois Price Spratlen Foundation scholarship recipient, served on the front lines of the mental health crisis as an ER Registered Nurse. She observed a recurring, heartbreaking pattern of patients being discharged from inpatient psychiatric care, only to fall through the cracks during the transition back to the community.
“Many patients struggled to access timely follow-up care, often due to limited resources and a lack of coordination between services. Seeing this repeatedly motivated me to pursue a role where I could help bridge that gap.”
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Sea Mar Community Health Center, Carly is actively closing this gap in care by translating years of frontline nursing experience into evidence-based psychiatric treatment interventions.
“Seeing my patients regain their independence and succeed is something I take great pride in.”
A number of Foundation scholars assumed leadership positions in 2026 as a way of giving back to their professional community.
Our scholars’ achievements show the impact of the Lois Price Spratlen Foundation, which supports students who excel in clinical care and show a strong commitment to their community.
With your donation, you help empower the next generation of mental health leaders.
Organization name
Lois Price Spratlen Scholarship Foundation
Tax id (EIN)
47-3965634
Category
Mental Health
Demographics
Asian & Pacific Islander, Black & African American, Hispanic & Latinx, Indigenous & Native American, Individuals with Disabilities, LGBTQ+, Low-Income, Veterans
Address
PO Box 173Seattle, WA, US
Spokane, WA, US
Tacoma, WA, US
Richland, WA, US
Vancouver, WA, US