Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship
One-Year Financial Support Application
The University of Washington and its partners announce the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative’s Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, a conditional grants program. Individuals applying to or enrolled in accredited counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work graduate programs in central, eastern, and western Washington who have a commitment to working in the behavioral health field are invited to apply.
The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) invests heavily in the potential of the future human services workforce—students—as a powerful force for systems change. The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program is designed to attract highly committed, capable, and diverse cohorts of students who will enter key professional roles in the state’s behavioral health sector—debt-free or substantially debt-relieved. After graduation, students commit to working at a community behavioral health agency in Washington state.
The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative is centered around services provided in community behavioral health agencies and at tribal health centers addressing their unique workforce demands.
Student Criteria
- Have demonstrated a commitment to working in the behavioral health field
- Are in need of financial assistance
- Have demonstrated experience with and a commitment to working in diverse communities
Program Guidelines
- Graduate counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work students who will commit to working at a Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agency or tribal health center focused on services to underserved communities, for 18 months post-graduation.
- Applicants must maintain legal residency in Washington state 36 months post-graduation.
- Applicants must sign a conditional grant award agreement as acceptance in the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program.
- Applicants must be selected and recommended by a representative from their counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work program.
- Conditional grants students must be enrolled in an accredited Washington state counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work program.
- Conditional grants students must complete their training in a target community behavioral health agency or tribal health center.
- Conditional grants students must remain in good academic standing with their program and participate in WDI-related trainings/meetings.
- Conditional grants fund a maximum of $25,750 based upon unmet need and will be paid in installments each academic period (quarter or semester). Awardees are advised to consult their tax advisor regarding any tax implications and consult with their university’s financial aid office.
Partner Universities
- Antioch University
- Central Washington University
- City University
- Eastern Washington University
- Gonzaga University
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Seattle Pacific University
- Seattle University
- University of Washington - Tacoma
- Walla Walla University
- Western Washington University
- Whitworth
Partner Universities are:
- Recruiting and selecting students who have demonstrated a commitment to working in the clinical behavioral health field (i.e., by work, volunteer history, or selection of behavioral health or closely-related concentration or course of specialized study in a current graduate program). Priority is given to students who demonstrate commitment to clients served in target community behavioral health agencies.
- Recruiting and selecting students who are willing to commit to post-graduation employment for at least 36 months in a target community behavioral health agency or tribal health center.
- Selecting students who have a documented need for financial assistance.
- Seeking eligible students who have experience in and a commitment to working with economically distressed and historically underrepresented minority communities/populations.
- Developing methods for providing feedback regarding the level of student preparation, protocols for practicum supervision, and commitment for proving impact information for WDI program planning.
- Tracking key program metrics and sharing aggregated, de-identified data to support program implementation.
Partner Community Behavioral Health Agencies are:
- Medicaid-receiving agencies and tribal health centers focused on services to underserved communities, based in Washington state.
- Located in a community setting (versus inpatient hospital, school district, Veterans Administration Medical Center, or other institutional setting) within Washington state or a tribal health center offering behavioral health services.
- Employing masters-level clinical behavioral health staff from the following disciplines: mental health counseling, social work, and/or marriage and family therapy.
- Providing behavioral health services reimbursed by Medicaid.
- Providing individual outpatient mental health treatment, outpatient substance use disorder Level I or Level II treatment (directly or through agreement), and rehabilitative case management.
- Training sites with designated instructors for clinical supervision.
- Tracking key program metrics and providing feedback regarding the level of student preparation.
To Apply:
- Students should complete, sign, and submit the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program application and Statement of Accuracy below.
- Students should contact their program’s WDI program administrator with inquiries.
For additional information, please contact the WDI at bhwdi@uw.edu.
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