Ducks Give 2025

The Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health is addressing one of the most urgent challenges of our time—the youth mental health crisis—by creating a groundbreaking bachelor’s-level workforce dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health support for children and families.  

The Ballmer Institute’s undergraduate degree in Child Behavioral Health is the first of its kind in the nation, providing undergraduate students with the types of training typically reserved for graduate degree programs, allowing them to enter the workforce sooner and reducing barriers to entry into behavioral health professions. 

As a bold and innovative initiative, the Ballmer Institute is experiencing rapid growth and transformation. The Executive Director’s Innovation Fund is a vital resource that empowers the institute to invest in new ideas, respond to emerging opportunities, and accelerate impact – advancing its mission to transform youth mental health.  

Your gift to the Executive Director’s Innovation Fund will drive impact and growth by:   

Expanding Mental Health Support for K-12 Students  
With additional investment, we can expand mental health support for K-12 students by launching a Summer Skills Camp and other skill-building programs. These initiatives will increase access to care and give students the tools to build emotional resilience and thrive. 

Preparing the Next Generation of Behavioral Health Professionals  
Through increased funding, we could expand clinical training, strengthen partnerships with mental health organizations, and launch a Behavioral Health Clinic, giving undergraduates real-world experience to make an immediate impact. 

Ensuring Community Voices Shape Our Work  
With expanded resources, we could enhance and sustain our collaboration with our Community Advisory Board, National Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and Youth Advisory Board. Their input is critical to ensuring that our training program aligns with the evolving needs of youth, families, and communities, preparing our graduates to serve where they are needed most. 

Your gift helps shape the future of behavioral health by supporting the development of a new profession—the Child Behavioral Health Specialist—to meet the growing demand for accessible youth mental health support.  

Together, we can make access to high-quality mental health support a fundamental right for all children and families in Oregon and across the nation. 

Donate today and be part of this transformational initiative.