Youngstown State University receives funding from Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Youngstown State University has received nearly $2 million in funding from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health to establish the Behavioral Health Scholarship. The new scholarship will support students in the university’s counseling and social work graduate programs as they work toward careers in behavioral health.

According to an article on Youngstown State University’s website, Jake Protivnak, who serves as the chair of YSU’s Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling, and is a distinguished professor and the counseling program director, was quoted as saying of the award, “This is an investment in people. The return on that investment will continue for decades as these individuals provide mental health services to people throughout Ohio. This scholarship opens the door for students to complete their degrees, earn licensure and build meaningful careers. Counseling and social work are distinct professions, but we share the same goal: preparing highly qualified behavioral health professionals. This funding allows us to work together to support students and meet an important need in Ohio.”

The Behavioral Health Scholarship will be awarded evenly between students in the counseling graduate program and the social work graduate program. Students who receive the scholarship must commit to working in an Ohio behavioral work setting for the same length of time that they received the scholarship funding. The scholarship will cover tuition and general fees during the fall and spring semesters for eligible students as a means of removing barriers to education for individuals who wish to work in behavioral health.

Meghan Bileci, who serves as the director of the Master of Social Work program, said, “It is overwhelming to think about how this is going to change students’ lives, children’s lives and our community. We are grateful to be given this opportunity to give back to students who work so hard and who will, in turn, support their communities.”

The funding will help bolster the behavioral health workforce in the state of Ohio. The state sees a great need for counselors and social workers, and providing funding for students to complete the necessary training and education will significantly impact the health and wellbeing of the community.

For more information about Youngstown State University, visit the school’s website.