The grant program is an initiative of the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Health Impact Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education to increase the number of licensed behavioral health professionals in the region.
Cleveland State University has received a grant in the amount of $1.45 million via the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship (OBHS) Program. OBHS is an initiative that seeks to increase the number of licensed behavioral health professionals in the region. The initiative was created as a partnership between the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Health Impact Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The OBHS grant will provide financial assistance to 80 master’s students in social work and clinical mental health counseling, and doctoral students in counseling psychology at Cleveland State University.
According to an article on Cleveland State University’s website, Dr. Sheila Patterson, who serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Scholarly Collaborations in the College of Health, was quoted as saying of the grant, “For our graduates, it establishes a launchpad into their professional careers. It also ensures that their advanced clinical training is directly translated into immediate employment within the State of Ohio. Statewide, 75 of Ohio's 88 counties are designated mental health shortage areas. Our expectation is that these graduates will serve as clinical experts and leaders in mental health care across the state. They are receiving evidence-based training in our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program (accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; CACREP), and our Counseling Psychology doctoral program (accredited by the American Psychological Association), and our master’s in social work (accredited by the Council of Social Work Education) so these recipients to step into health care settings fully equipped to address pressing mental health needs and to deliver quality care.”
In order to receive the scholarship funding, students must agree to work in an underserved Ohio Community for a period of time following receiving their degree. As the state is facing an unprecedented shortage of licensed behavioral health professionals, it views staffing underserved areas with these professionals a top priority.
Working alongside Dr. Patterson in securing the grant funding was Dr. Tawanda Greer-Medley, the Associate Director of Counseling and Director of Doctoral Studies in Urban Education in the School of Education and Counseling in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education.
Dr. Greer-Medley said, “This scholarship addresses those financial hurdles by offsetting educational costs, while also retaining these talented students in the state. This localized pipeline ensures that the state retains effectively trained mental health professionals who serve populations that desperately need their expertise.”
For more information about Cleveland State University, visit the school’s website.