Behavioral Health Scholarship Program Grant

Funder: California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)

The Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, administered by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), aims to enhance the pipeline of trained behavioral health professionals. By offering scholarships up to $35,000 for students pursuing degrees in behavioral health, the program addresses the urgent need for direct care providers in underserved communities. Participants must fulfill a 12-month service obligation, ensuring their skills benefit those who need it most. This initiative fosters diversity within the healthcare workforce.

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) administers and supports health workforce programs that expand the quality and diversity of health professionals. One avenue in which HCAI provides support is through financial aid, such as scholarships and grants to those seeking training and education in the healthcare workforce.
The Behavioral Health Scholarship Program (BHSP) aims to increase the number of trained behavioral health professionals providing direct care to underserved communities. BHSP provides scholarships to behavioral health students seeking education or training to become behavioral health practitioners through a certificate, associate, bachelor, master and/or doctoral degree program in exchange for a 12-month service obligation practicing and providing direct care in an underserved community.
Funding
The state will provide up to $240,000 in scholarship funding to eligible individuals participating in educational programs to become licensed, prescribing behavioral health practitioners, with a four-year service obligation.
Individuals participating in educational programs to become non-prescribing, non-licensed practitioners are eligible for up to $120K; with the following service obligation:

• $20K or greater is four years
• $10K – $20K is three years
• Less than $10K is two years