External Grants:
External funding experience includes federally and state-supported initiatives focused on school-based mental health workforce development, infant and early childhood mental health, interdisciplinary professional preparation, and services supporting children and families.
Babel, K. (Principal Investigator/Project Director), & Reynolds, J. (Co-Principal Investigator). (2026). North Alabama School Counseling and Mental Health Training Initiative (NASCMHTI). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Competitive federal grant application, $541,699. Under Review.
Crawford, S. (Principal), Booker, S. (Principal), Babel, K. (Co-Principal), Tew-Washburn, S. (Supporting), “Trojan School-Based Mental Health Counselors Training Initiative,” Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Federal, Funded-$1,132,775.00. (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2028).
Booker, S. (Principal), Crawford, S. (Co-Principal), Babel, K. (Supporting), Dennis, E. B. (Supporting), “Troy Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling Certificate Program PDG B-5 Renewal Grant YR4,” Sponsored by Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, State, Funded-$236,129.00. (July 31, 2023 – August 1, 2024).
Booker, S. (Principal), Crawford, S., Babel, K. (Co-Principal), Dennis, E. B., “Troy Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling Certificate Program PDG B-5 Renewal Grant,” Sponsored by Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, State Funded-$436,297.00. (January 1, 2023 – July 2024).
Booker, S. (Principal), Crawford, S. (Co-Principal), Babel, K. (Supporting), Dennis, E. B. (Supporting), “ADECE PDG B-5 NCE Exceptional Grant – TROY Infant Early Childhood MH,” Sponsored by Department of Early Childhood Education, State, Funded-$199,824.00. (February 2023 – December 2023).
Booker, S. (Principal), Babel, K. (Co-Principal), Upshaw, A. (Supporting), Crawford, S. (Co-Principal), Faircloth, P., “Troy Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling Certificate Program PDG B-5 Renewal Grant YR3,” Sponsored by Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, State, Funded-$199,297.00. (July 31, 2021 – August 1, 2022).
Faircloth, P. K. (Principal), Booker, S. (Co-Principal), Babel, K. (Co-Principal), Upshaw, A. J. (Co-Principal), “Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, The Troy Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling Certificate Program Grant – Year 2,” Sponsored by Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, State, Funded-$215,280.01. (December 31, 2020 – December 30, 2021).
Internal Grants and Sponsored Projects * Indicates work completed in collaboration with students.
Babel, K. (2026). Disseminating Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Scholarship at the 2026 Annual APT International Conference. Faculty Scholarship Accelerator, Spencer College Opportunity Funds, Spencer Endowment, University of North Alabama. Role: Project Lead. Awarded: $1,302.17.
Babel, K. (2026). Advancing Ethical School Counseling Supervision through Statewide Professional Dissemination. Faculty Scholarship Accelerator, Spencer College Opportunity Funds, Spencer Endowment, University of North Alabama. Role: Project Lead and Presenter. Awarded: $514.02.
Davis, E., Babel, K., & Foti, M. B.* (2026). Navigating Two Worlds: Strengthening Supervision for School-Based Registered Play Therapists. Faculty Scholarship Accelerator, Spencer College Opportunity Funds, Spencer Endowment, University of North Alabama. Role: UNA Co-Investigator. Awarded: $200.00.
Babel, K. (Faculty Sponsor). (2026). Supporting Growth While Holding Standards: Jada Hughes at the ALSCA Critical Issues Conference. Spencer Student Launch Fund, Spencer College Opportunity Funds, Spencer Endowment, University of North Alabama. Student recipient: Jada Hughes*. Awarded: $500.00.
Babel, K. (Faculty Sponsor). (2026). Launching Future Counselor Educators at SACES 2026. Spencer Student Launch Fund, Spencer College Opportunity Funds, Spencer Endowment, University of North Alabama. Student recipients: Jada Hughes* and Lionel Jones*. Awarded: $350.00; $1,000 requested.
Babel, K. (2026). IFTA 2026 Congress Presentation in Norway. Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences Faculty Development Funding, University of North Alabama. Project Lead. Awarded $801.93; $2,000 requested. Funds not utilized.
Babel, K. (2025). Association for Humanistic Counseling Annual Conference Presentation. College of Education and Human Sciences Faculty Development Funding, University of North Alabama. Project Lead. Awarded $799.98; $1,340.76 requested.
Babel, K. (2024). Alabama Counseling Association Annual Conference Presentations. College of Education and Human Sciences Faculty Development Funding, University of North Alabama. Project Lead. Awarded $538.34; $538.34 requested.