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Transforming Youth Behavioral Health

What We Do At the Ballmer Institute

Our mission 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 communities agencies.

The Institute's model is gaining national traction, with adoption by multiple universities and licensure pathways established in Oregon and Nevada.

three women talking in an office setting with books behind them
a student from the University of Oregon Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health meets with a teenager

Academics

Home to the nation's first applied undergraduate program in child behavioral health, students complete 700 hours of supervised fieldwork gaining practical, evidence-based skills to support youth and families before challenges escalate into crises.
Two people discussing at a table in a classroom

Partnerships

Building partnerships with schools, community organizations, health systems, and policymakers to connect research and training to real-world needs — scaling proven solutions and preparing a new workforce to support children and teens.
A smiling counselor holding a clipboard sits across from a young girl during a warm, relaxed one-on-one session indoors.

Research & Innovation

Advancing scalable, research-driven solutions focused on early detection, prevention, and intervention to expand access to care, reduce disparities, and strengthen outcomes for youth, families, and communities.

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.

Child Behavioral Health Major

 

Architectural rendering of the Child Behavioral Health Building exterior, surrounded by gardens and walking paths with people gathered outside.

Creating an Innovation Hub For Youth Behavioral Health

The 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 ⏵

Ballmer Institute News

Oregon News reports that Oregon has created an official license for bachelor's-level behavioral health specialists—a direct result of the workforce pipeline built by the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health. Graduates can now enter the field with a recognized credential, insurance reimbursement eligibility, and the skills to address Oregon's children's mental health shortage.
The Ballmer Institute's Executive Director has been recognized among 250 distinguished leaders in academia and beyond for her groundbreaking work in children's behavioral health.
The Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health’s annual report shares milestones, research, partnerships, and progress toward building a stronger behavioral health workforce and improving outcomes for children and families.

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