Transforming Youth Behavioral Health
What We Do At the Ballmer Institute
Our vision is to ensure all children have the support they need to thrive. Led by faculty at the forefront of youth behavioral health, the Ballmer Institute is building the workforce to make it possible — training bachelor's-level practitioners, partnering with schools and communities, scaling access to care nationwide, and developing innovative approaches to support youth mental health.
Building a Nationwide Workforce
The Ballmer Institute is leading the development of a new type of behavioral health provider — the behavioral health and wellness practitioner. These bachelor's-level providers will expand access to care through prevention and early intervention services delivered in schools, healthcare settings, and community agencies.
The Institute's model is gaining national traction, with adoption by multiple universities and licensure pathways established in Oregon and Nevada.
Academics
Partnerships
Research & Innovation
the catalyst center for Youth Behavioral Health
A $125 million grant from the Ballmer Group is launching the Catalyst Center for Youth Behavioral Health, an innovation hub that will expand the Ballmer Institute’s first-of-its-kind child behavioral health undergraduate training model to other universities. This initiative aims to transform the youth mental health workforce by creating a new type of bachelor’s-level behavioral health provider that emphasizes early identification and prevention of youth mental health concerns.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Katie McLaughlin, the Catalyst Center will launch a nationwide network of child behavioral health programs that aim to train tens of thousands of new behavioral health providers and expand access to support for millions of children and families.
A Trailblazing Undergrad Degree
Created in response to the youth mental health crisis, the child behavioral health program prepares career-ready graduates to deliver evidence-based and culturally-responsive early identification, prevention, and brief intervention services.
With more than 700 hours of supervised applied training in schools, primary care, and community settings, graduates are equipped to fill critical prevention-focused roles — supporting youth and families while working alongside licensed providers.
Creating an Innovation Hub For Youth Behavioral Health
The Tykeson Child Behavioral Health Building is a state-of-the-art facility designed for groundbreaking impact. As the future home of the Ballmer Institute and the Prevention Science Institute, it unites training, research, and service to expand access to care and advance innovation in behavioral health.
Learn More About the Building ⏵
