Tuition Assistance and Stipends for Graduate-Level Behavioral Health Students

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) under OregonBuys Bid Number S-44300-00006187 to provide tuition assistance and stipends for graduate-level behavioral health students. This procurement seeks to increase diversity in the behavioral health workforce, advance equity, and expand culturally and linguistically specific services across Oregon. Eligible institutions can apply for funding to support students with up to $15,000 in annual tuition assistance and $3,000 in annual stipends per student. The program requires applicants to prioritize students from underserved communities who intend to work in Oregon upon graduation. Key deliverables include a Project Performance Plan, quarterly and annual reports, and a final project status report. Applications were due by April 21, 2023, at 4:00 PM PST, with the Notice of Intent to Award expected on May 5, 2023. Evaluation criteria focus on the institution's ability to support diversity, provide internship and job placement assistance, and demonstrate a plan for awarding incentives to students.

The RFGA is restricted to non-profit nationally accredited public and private universities and colleges located in Oregon, including nationally accredited online-only institutions with students enrolled in the state. Eligible organizations must be able to administer the program with administrative costs capped at 5% of the total budget. The Intent to Award letter identified eight successful awardees: Bushnell University, Eastern Oregon University, Lewis & Clark College, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific University, Portland State University, and Southern Oregon University. The total funding available is up to $1.5 million for tuition assistance and $375,000 for stipends, with a contract term of two years. The program specifically targets Marion County and the city of Salem, with a focus on supporting Oregon's underserved communities by increasing the number of culturally responsive and linguistically specific behavioral health care workers. Students must be in good academic standing and demonstrate a commitment to working in Oregon's behavioral health sector upon completion of their graduate-level programs.