Frequently Asked Questions
We encourage students and those interested in the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative
to contact us at bhwdi@uw.edu if you do not see the answer to your question below. We look forward to hearing from you!
About the Workforce Development Initiative
What is the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative?
The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) is a statewide project to increase the number of well-trained clinicians who are committed to working in community behavioral health agencies in Washington state. With the generous support of Ballmer Group, the WDI facilitates the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, a statewide conditional scholarship program for students enrolled in master’s level clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work programs. Student recipients of the conditional scholarship receive academic funding on condition of completing an employment commitment at a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency providing outpatient services.
What is "community behavioral health"?
“Behavioral health” refers to the broad field of mental health and substance use treatment. “Community behavioral health” is mental health or substance use treatment funded by public sources of support, such as Medicaid. Community behavioral health comprises a major portion of the American healthcare system and is essential for creating healthy communities.
What is a “WDI-approved” agency and is a list of these agencies available?
WDI-approved agencies are those Medicaid-receiving agencies that provide individual community-based mental health treatment in association with Level I or Level II outpatient substance use disorder treatment (directly or through agreement). The WDI maintains a select list of Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agencies.
How many WDI-approved community agencies are there?
The Workforce Development Initiative has identified more than 100 Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agencies across Washington. We encourage partnering universities to build upon existing relationships in their communities and cultivate new partnerships with agencies that provide outpatient services.
What are the requirements for students concerning Medicaid-receiving agencies?
To be eligible for a WDI conditional scholarship, applicants/students must agree to train then work post-graduation at a WDI-approved Medicaid-receiving agency in Washington state. The internship placement and the post-graduation employment can differ. The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program has a select list of community behavioral health agencies that address the Initiative’s goals.
How are scholarships distributed among participating universities?
Through the Quick Start program, in the inaugural year of the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI), each higher education program was allocated two conditional scholarships for students expected to graduate in spring or summer 2022. For students enrolled in the 2021-2025 academic years, conditional scholarships were allocated by committee with a focus on central and eastern Washington.
Will receiving a conditional scholarship enhance a student’s job prospects?
Yes, we believe so, especially since the WDI provides students with advanced skills training and access to a statewide network that could benefit and even catapult their career.
When were the WDI's conditional scholarships programs launched?
The Ballmer Group’s investment in community behavioral health was announced in May 2021, after a convening of 13 Washington-based universities. The Workforce for Student Well-being (WSW) Initiative, funded by U.S. Department of Education was launched in February 2023 with a convening of six Washington-based schools of social work. You can learn more about the announcement and the Workforce Development Initiative here.
About the conditional scholarships
What is a conditional scholarship?
A conditional scholarship is an academic scholarship given on condition of fulfilling a service commitment. The conditional scholarships offered through the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program are awarded on condition of fulfilling an employment commitment at a target community behavioral health agency within two months following the student’s graduation.
How much are the scholarships?
The maximum conditional scholarship for community behavioral health students enrolled in two- or three-year master’s programs is $51,500 and is based on unmet need in exchange for three years of post-graduation employment. The scholarship is given on condition of post-graduation employment in Washington state.
The conditional scholarship amount for all students is based on a “last dollar-in” FAFSA® calculation and student-tuition costs. Student expenditures will not be restricted since the goal is to reduce or eliminate student debt.
If students start the program and then change their minds, what are their obligations?
Because this is a conditional scholarship program, students who are unable to continue the program will have to repay the amount received. The Community for Advanced Practice Skills component is designed to help support student success and job placement.
How much time must be committed to working after graduation?
Community behavioral health students enrolled in a two- or three-year master’s program must commit to serving three years of employment (or 18 months if enrolled in a one-year MSW program) and are expected to begin employment within two months of their graduation date.
Does my university receive my conditional scholarship funds or do I?
For Fall 2021-Fall 2025 Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship recipients, your university will receive the conditional scholarship funds and your Office of Financial Aid can guide you through their internal process.
What can the conditional scholarship funds be used on?
The funds can be spent on any expense you need. The intent of the WDI is to reduce or eliminate student debt.
What happens if my financial situation significantly improves during a later year of my program?
The financial award, derived from you FAFSA/WASFA is evaluated and granted based on your unmet financial need in the year in which you apply for a WDI conditional scholarship; your Office of Financial Aid manages this process.
What happens if I need to switch to another Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agency?
You may transfer to a different target community behavioral health agency to fulfill your education internship/practicum and employment commitments.
What happens if I fail to complete my program and can’t repay my scholarship?
In the event that a conditional scholarship recipient is in default, either by disenrolling in the academic program or through voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, the student may be referred for collections.
Given our goal to reduce or eliminate debt, WDI students and graduates are encouraged to proactively correspond with their university’s WDI administrators regarding their concerns about fulfilling their conditional scholarship commitment. WDI graduates are encouraged to contact the WDI’s administrator by emailing: bhwdi@uw.edu.
About the conditional scholarship application
Who can apply?
The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program offered conditional scholarships to prospective clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work graduate programs who commit to working at a target Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agency or tribal health center in Washington state between 2021-2025. Future WDI conditional scholarships will be offered by Washington Student Achievement Council.
Learn more at: Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship | WSAC
For students to be awarded conditional scholarships, they must be enrolled in an accredited counseling, family and marriage therapy, and/or social work program. Which organizations are acceptable accreditors?
The Initiative is designed for students in programs accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Is there a fee to apply?
No, there is no fee to apply.
Is there a deadline to apply?
If applying for Fall 2026, behavioral health conditional scholarship information will be available at:
Can I re-apply for a conditional scholarship multiple times if I’m not selected?
Currently the incoming Fall 2025 cohort is the last cohort funded for a conditional scholarship. Fall 2026 applications will be selected and awarded through Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
Learn more at: Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship | WSAC
Who selects applicants for conditional sponsorships?
WDI applicants are selected by their respective university’s selection committee. The Fall 2026 application process will follow Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
Learn more about WSAC at:
What qualifies as “demonstrated commitment to working in the behavioral health field”?
Past volunteer or paid experience in the behavioral health/mental health field; interest building clinical skills; and future employment goals in the behavioral health/mental health field are ways in which students can demonstrate their commitment to the behavioral health/mental health field.
What qualifies as “documented need for financial assistance?”
Completing the FAFSA® or WASFA form is the required information documenting financial need.
What sort of documents/information might I need to provide in my application?
For information regarding the incoming Fall 2026 cohort, please visit Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) at:
My university isn’t listed as a partner with the WDI. Can I still apply?
The Workforce Development Initiative’s higher education partners are accredited clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work programs in Washington state that have chosen to participate.
Additional information might be found via:
Can I submit a conditional scholarship application to multiple programs?
Guidelines for Fall 2026 will soon be available via:
Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship | WSAC
Because the conditional grant award amount is based on the last-dollar-in calculation, you are encouraged to talk with your admissions and financial aid offices regarding your cost-of-attendance and estimated conditional grant amount.
For higher education partners
Is there a set number of conditional scholarships set aside for each education partner?
The goal of providing 515 conditional scholarships will be reached in 2025. For Fall 2026, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) will be awarding the behavioral health scholarships.
Learn more about WSAC at:
When do you hope to receive conditional grant applications for students beginning their program in fall 2026?
From 2021-2025, each participating higher education program determined its eligible students based on a pre-determined selection process. As the WDI administrator, the University of Washington received the student’s financial information and crafted each student’s conditional scholarship agreement.
For Fall 2026, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) will administer the behavioral health/mental health conditional scholarships.
Learn more about WSAC at:
When a generalist student is awarded a conditional scholarship, are the funds approved for both years as long as the student pursues a specialized placement in behavioral health at one of the WDI-approved agencies?
Yes, a student is awarded a maximum of $30,000-$51,500 over one to three years depending on their program; the dollar amount is calculated based on unmet financial need; the conditional scholarship award is in exchange for post-graduation employment at WDI-approved community behavioral health agencies.
When an extended degree student is awarded a conditional scholarship, will they be able to begin receiving funds during the summer quarter?
All WDI student agreements begin on September 1st, and you will want to talk with your university’s office of financial aid regarding distribution of funds during the summer.
If a conditional scholarships recipient's internship placement needs to change due to concerns about the recipient's performance, will the recipient need to leave the WDI program?
The conditional scholarship recipient may transfer to another community behavioral health agency (listed here) or high-need K-12 local education program (listed here) to avoid leaving the program.
If a placement does not work and we are not able to secure another placement in one of the WDI-approved agencies, what is the consequence to the student?
Because this is a conditional scholarship and not a traditional merit scholarship, the student must repay the funds if placement is not a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency in Washington state.
Will higher education programs be permitted to search for placements at another community behavioral health agency?
Yes. The agency should be on the list of target community behavioral health agencies.
If a conditional scholarship recipient does not successfully complete their graduate program or the behavioral health specialized placement, is the recipient responsible for reimbursing the Workforce Development Initiative?
The student must repay the funds as this is a conditional scholarship and not a traditional merit scholarship.
What happens if a student does not complete their graduate program?
In the event that a conditional scholarship recipient/student is in default, either by disenrolling in the academic program or through voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, the student may be referred for collections.
Will agencies affiliated with the WDI require additional support from higher education programs?
Additional support from higher education program partners is in development as it is our goal to create greater alignment between higher education programs and employers.
Can students in a one-year program apply for a conditional grant?
Yes, students in an one-year program may apply for a conditional scholarship. Beginning Fall 2025, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) will be administering the scholarships.
Learn more about WSAC at:
After graduation, are graduates who received a conditional scholarships required to find employment at the WDI-approved list of agencies or may they find employment at any behavioral health agency?
Employment must take place at a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency (listed here) or a tribal health center or high-need K-12 school district for those who are participating in the WSW.
Are graduates able to move out of state and meet the employment obligation at an agency outside of Washington?
The Initiative is specific to Washington state; students must maintain legal residency in Washington state following their graduation and be employed at a target community behavioral health agency or high-need K-12 school district in Washington to fulfill their post-graduation conditional employment commitment.
How is "unmet financial need" defined?
The unmet need is the student’s cost of attendance minus any scholarships. The higher education program’s Office of Student Aid calculates the student’s unmet need, upon which a student makes the decision to proceed with accepting the conditional scholarship or to decline the opportunity.
How much financial support will each internship supervisor/instructor receive per conditional scholarship recipient?
Field instructors or supervisors do not receive funding.
How and at what intervals will conditional scholarships funds be disbursed?
Partner universities should invoice the University of Washington annually in September and January.
Are there additional experience or licensure requirements that field instructors for conditional scholarship recipients must meet (beyond what is required currently by the higher education program)?
There are no additional experience or licensure requirements for field instructors beyond what is required by the higher education program.
How is "targeted student recruitment" defined?
Targeted recruitment is strategically recruiting students who have experience in, and commitment towards, working with economically distressed and historically underrepresented communities or populations.
What is the Community for Advanced Practice Skills
The Workforce Development Initiative offers advanced skill training to future clinicians.
The Community for Advanced Practice Skills (CAPS) operates like a “community of practice” that brings together WDI trainees (master-level students), practicum instructors, and local experts for collaborative learning and practice in specialized skills relevant for community behavioral health.
What tracking and data should higher education program collect regarding each student receiving a conditional scholarship?
Focused on systems-change, evaluation and data collection are key to the WDI’s success. We will ask higher education programs to provide common existing student information (for example, the student’s internship agency and their academic term of internship).