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 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, a statewide conditional grant program for students in master’s level counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work programs. Student recipients of the conditional grant receive academic funding on condition of serving an employment commitment at a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency.
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” community behavioral health agency and is a list of these agencies available?
WDI-approved agencies are those Medicaid-receiving agencies that provide individual outpatient mental health treatment, outpatient substance use disorder treatment (level I or level II), and rehabilitative case management. 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 agency partnerships.
What are the requirements for students concerning Medicaid-receiving agencies?
To be eligible for a conditional grant through the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship, students must agree to train at a target Medicaid-receiving agency, then work at a targeted Medicaid-receiving agency post-graduation, both of which must take place in Washington state. The internship placement and the employment can be at different agencies. The Workforce Development Initiative has a select list of community behavioral health agencies that address the Initiative’s goals.
How are grants distributed among participating universities?
Through the Quick Start program, in the inaugural year of the Workforce Development Initiative, each higher education program was allocated two slots for students expected to graduate in spring or summer 2022. For students enrolled in the 2021-2023, 2022-2023, and 2022-2024 academic years, there is not a set number of slots per university. For students enrolled in 2023-2025 and 2024-2026, guidelines will be drafted and approved by an allocation committee, made up of Initiative partners.
Will receiving a conditional grant enhance a student’s job prospects?
We believe so, especially since the Initiative gives students access to a statewide network that could benefit and even catapult their career. In addition, we plan to create an affinity network of conditional grant students and alumni to help support and shape career goals of incoming students.
When was Ballmer Group’s behavioral health investment announced?
The announcement was made on May 14, 2021. You can learn more about the announcement and the Workforce Development Initiative here.
About the conditional grants
What is a conditional grant?
A conditional grant is an academic grant given on condition of fulfilling a service commitment. The conditional grants offered through the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship are given on condition of fulfilling an employment commitment at a target community behavioral health agency following the student’s graduation. The length of the employment commitment is contingent on the amount of the academic grant that the student receives.
How much are the grants?
The maximum conditional grant for students enrolled in two- or three-year master’s programs is $51,500 and is based on unmet need. The grant is given on condition of three years of employment at a target community behavioral health agency or tribal health center in Washington state.
The maximum conditional grant for students enrolled in a one-year master’s program is $25,750 and is based on unmet need. The grant is given on condition of 18 months of employment at a target community behavioral health agency or tribal health center in Washington state.
The conditional grant 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 of the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program is to reduce or eliminate student debt. The model is crafted on an annual basis. The conditional grant award is adjusted for students in one-year and three-year programs.
If students start the program and then change their minds, what are their obligations?
Because this is a conditional grant program, students who are unable to continue the program will have to repay the amount given. The career support component is designed to help support student success and job placement.
How much time must be committed to working in a WDI-approved Medicaid-receiving agency after graduation?
Students enrolled in a two- or three-year master’s program must commit to serving three years of employment in an agency (or 18 months if enrolled in a one-year master’s program). All students are expected to begin employment within two months of their graduation date.
Does my university receive my conditional grant funds or do I?
Your university will receive the conditional grant funds and your Office of Financial Aid can guide you through their internal process.
What can the conditional grant funds be used on?
The funds can be spent on any expenses you need. The intent of the Initiative 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 will be re-evaluated and granted based on your unmet financial need in each year of your program; 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 grant?
In the event that a conditional grant 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.
About the conditional grant application
Who can apply?
The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program offers conditional grants to graduate students in counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work programs who commit to working at a target Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agency or tribal health center in Washington state.
For students to be awarded a grant, 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?
Yes, the current application deadline is listed in the Application Timeline on the Apply page.
Can I re-apply for a conditional grant multiple times if I’m not selected?
Yes, applicants may re-apply as many times as they would like in future application periods.
Who selects applicants for conditional grants?
Applicants are currently selected by their respective university’s selection committee.
What qualifies as “demonstrated commitment to working in the behavioral health field”?
Past volunteer or paid experience in the behavioral health field; interest building clinical skills; and future employment goals in the behavioral health field are ways in which students can demonstrate their commitment to the behavioral health field.
What qualifies as “documented need for financial assistance?”
Completing the FAFSA® or WASFA forms are the acceptable methods for documenting financial need.
What sort of documents/information might I need to provide in my application?
Completing and submitting your conditional grant application packet to your university’s program administrator will allow your university’s Office of Financial Aid to calculate and process your unmet financial need.
My university isn’t listed as a partner with the WDI. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately, you cannot. The Workforce Development Initiative’s higher education partners are accredited counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work programs in Washington state that have chosen to participate.
Can I submit a conditional grant application to multiple programs?
You can submit identical applications to each program as all conditional grant applications are independently reviewed by each higher education program.
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 grants set aside for each education partner?
No, with a goal of providing 415 conditional grants, there is not a set number for the summer/fall 2022 students; each higher education program is to select their students; for the 2021-2023 and 2022-2024 academic years, the WDI is accepting as many students as are eligible.
When do you hope to receive conditional grant applications for students beginning their program in fall 2022?
Each higher education program determines their eligible students based on their selection process. As the WDI administrator, the University of Washington simply receives the student’s financial information. The student costing forms are due to the University of Washington by July 31, 2022.
When a generalist student is awarded a conditional grant, 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 $51,500 over two or three years depending on their program; the dollar amount is calculated each year based on need; the conditional grant award is in exchange for three years of employment in a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency (listed here).
When an extended degree student is awarded a conditional grant, will they be able to begin receiving funds during the summer quarter?
Yes, conditional grant funds will be paid in installments each academic term (quarter or semester).
If a conditional grant recipient's internship placement needs to change due to concerns about the recipient's performance, will the recipient need to leave the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program?
The conditional grant recipient may transfer to another target community behavioral health agency (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 grant and not a scholarship, the student must repay the funds if placement is not a WDI-approved agency.
Will higher education programs be permitted to search for a behavioral health placement at another Medicaid-receiving community behavioral health agency?
Yes. The agency should be on the list of target community behavioral health agencies; we also recognize there might be exceptions to the list.
If a conditional grant 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 grant and not a scholarship.
What happens if a student does not complete their graduate program?
In the event that a conditional grant 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.
Can students in a one-year program apply for a conditional grant?
Yes, students in an one-year program may apply for a conditional grant, which has a maximum award of $25,750, based on unmet need in, on condition of 18 months of employment in a target community behavioral health agency (listed here) or tribal health center.
After graduation, are graduates who received a conditional grant 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.
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 in Washington to fulfill their conditional grant 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 grant or to decline the opportunity.
How much financial support will each internship supervisor/instructor receive per conditional grant student?
Field instructors or supervisors do not receive funding. Currently, WDI-approved community behavioral health agencies receive up to $2,000 for providing an internship/practicum experience for one conditional grant student.
How and at what intervals will conditional grant funds be disbursed?
The funds are invoiced by the community behavioral health agency and distributed at the end of the student’s training period (internship/practicum).
If the training placement fails, will the internship supervisor/instructor be expected to return the funds they received?
The funds are paid to the community behavioral health agency after the student successfully completes their training (internship/practicum).
Are there additional experience or licensure requirements that Field Instructors for conditional grant 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 Career Support Network?
The Workforce Development Initiative is facilitating the Career Support Network, a program to guide students in assessing and improving their skills and knowledge to best prepare for both the first day on the job and a career in community behavioral health. The Career Support Network consists of five elements at this time: 1) career-oriented counseling; 2) professional self-assessment; 3) individual career development plans; 4) professional learning forums; and 5) an online professional development portal.
What tracking and data should higher education program collect regarding each student receiving a conditional grant?
The data collection plan is still being finalized. 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).