John Carroll University has been awarded a $1,050,000 grant under the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship (OBHS) Program, a statewide initiative created to strengthen Ohio’s behavioral health workforce. The funding will provide full-tuition scholarships for graduate students entering John Carroll's master's programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Applied Behavior Analysis this fall, helping prepare more licensed professionals to serve communities facing critical workforce shortages.
The OBHS Program is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Health Impact Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The initiative supports graduate students pursuing careers in behavioral health while encouraging them to practice in Ohio communities with the greatest need. John Carroll is one of only 16 institutions statewide selected to receive funding through the program.
The grant comes at a critical time for Ohio, where communities across the state continue to experience shortages of licensed counselors and behavioral health professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for mental health counselors is projected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. By reducing financial barriers for graduate students and encouraging them to serve in underserved communities, the scholarship program will help expand access to mental health and behavioral health services for Ohioans who need them most.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program and our state partners for investing in the next generation of behavioral health professionals,” said Dr. Martina Moore, Chair of the Department of Counseling at John Carroll University. “This scholarship removes one of the biggest barriers standing between talented students and a career in behavioral health: cost. These students will graduate and go directly into the communities that need licensed counselors and behavioral analysts the most. That's a direct investment in Ohio's future workforce and in the people across our state who are still waiting for access to care.”
John Carroll University's graduate programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Applied Behavior Analysis prepare students to become compassionate, evidence-based practitioners who serve individuals, families, schools, healthcare organizations, and community agencies. Through rigorous coursework, faculty mentorship, and supervised clinical experiences, students develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to address the growing demand for behavioral health services across Ohio.
Eligible students may receive $15,000 per year, renewable for up to two years, and participating institutions of higher education will provide matching aid to ensure tuition and general fees are fully covered. To qualify, students must enroll in an approved graduate behavioral health program by fall 2026, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and commit to working in an eligible underserved Ohio community for a period equal to the number of years they receive scholarship support.
