The youth mental health crisis continues to affect children and families across Oregon and the nation. At the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health, we are addressing this urgent challenge by transforming the behavioral health workforce through a groundbreaking undergraduate degree in child behavioral health (CBH). This first-of-its-kind program prepares students to enter the behavioral health field sooner—with the evidence-based skills and applied training needed to make an immediate difference in the lives of children and families.
Students begin their academic journey in Eugene as pre-CBH majors before transitioning to the UO Portland campus for their Junior and Senior years, where they complete more than 700 hours of applied practice in schools, healthcare settings, and community organizations.
But here’s the challenge: while many students are initially interested in the CBH major, most ultimately do not make the commitment. The biggest barriers students cite is the transition from Eugene to Portland and not having enough early exposure to the program and the Portland community.
Ballmer Bound will directly address this challenge.
Ballmer Bound enriches the early experience for pre-CBH students in Eugene—offering earlier exposure to the CBH major, helping students build meaningful connections, and preparing them for a successful transition to the UO Portland campus.
Your gift to Ballmer Bound will support three key areas:
- Academic Engagement
Support for Ballmer Institute faculty to deliver CBH-focused coursework and academic programming in Eugene, giving students earlier exposure to behavioral health concepts, skills, and career pathways.
- Community Building
Opportunities for pre-CBH students to connect with peers, faculty, mentors, and practitioners through events and programming that foster belonging and shared purpose within the field.
- Student Support
Experiential opportunities such as the Ballmer Bound Portland Internship Experience (PIE), offering first- and second-year students structured summer internships with youth- and family-serving organizations in Portland. These experiences help students build professional connections and familiarity with the city where they will complete their applied training.
Your gift helps more students to say “yes” to CBH —strengthening recruitment, improving retention, and preparing more graduates to enter the behavioral health workforce in Oregon, and beyond.
Together, we can prepare more students who will help shape a future where children and families have access to the care they need to thrive.
Make your gift today to support our bold vision – that access to high-quality mental health support is a fundamental right of all children and families, starting in Oregon.
