EOU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Receives Groundbreaking Tuition Assistance Grant

Dec. 21, 2023

EOU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Receives Groundbreaking Tuition Assistance Grant

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) received a $787,500 grant from the Oregon Health Authority’s Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative. The grant aims to foster diversity and inclusion within the CMHC program by offering Oregon residents up to $13,000 annually in tuition assistance. 

“This grant is more than just financial aid; it’s a much needed investment in the future of mental health care in Oregon,” stated Dr. Hope Schuermann, CMHC Program Director. “It opens doors for students from varied backgrounds, enabling them to bring their unique perspectives into this critical field.”

EOU’s College of Science, Technology, Math, and Health Sciences (STMHS) collaborated with local mental health professionals to develop the CMHC program in order to address the pressing need for mental health professionals, especially in remote areas. The CMHC program is fully online and is having a profound impact on Oregon’s mental health landscape where students get hands-on experience working directly with clients in their local communities.

Funding applications are open now through Tuesday, Jan.16, 2023, however funding availability will extend to CMHC students admitted through Fall 2025. 

To learn more about OHA grant funding, and the CMHC program, please contact the Director, Dr. Hope Schuermann, or the CMHC Program Specialist, Jamie Baker, at CMHC@eou.edu. For more information on the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, visit eou.edu/clinical-mental-health-counseling.