UO 'To Reinvent' Child Behavioral Health Care With Ballmer Gift

PORTLAND, OR — That it's going to be called "The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health" and a major part of its initial funding is coming from Connie and Steve Ballmer is beside the point. The University of Oregon, which is creating the institute, says what mattes is how it will "reinvent" child behavioral health care.

The university is creating the institute on the Northeast Portland campus where Concordia University had been located. The Ballmer are giving "more than $425 million" to help fund the effort.

The institute will create new degree programs and develop new programs to provide behavioral care for kids and teens from kindergarten through 12th grade.

"The need for behavioral health services across our county is at critical levels," Connie Ballmer said. "There is an opportunity to strengthen and enhance the behavioral health system so that it is set up to address every child's needs."

She added that the institute "can help strengthen talent and bill partnerships to create long-lasting impact for Oregon's kids and families."

UO says that the institute will work with school districts around the country. Since it will be based in Portland – what the school calls "the epicenter" of the crisis in Oregon – the Portland Public School District will be the first partner.

"School districts are often ill-equipped to adequately address these barriers to learning," Portland Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero said.

"We have a responsibility to find innovative ways to support the holistic needs of our students."

UO says that in its initial phase, the institute will:

• hire more than 2o new faculty members who will not only train students but will be tasked with developing "innovative programs and refine approaches n the education community;"
• graduate at least 200 behavioral health practitioners each year;
• offer, in addition to bachelor's degrees, a certificate program for mid-career students;
• find ways to deliver science-based early detection, prevention, and treatment strategies directly into the lives of children and their families; and
• use a $100 million endowment to provide scholarships to grade a "new diverse and culturally rich workforce prepared to work directly with those in need."

Representative Earl Blumenauer who represents the area where the institute will be, praised the development.

"This is an extraordinary development on so many critical levels. Advances in behavioral health for children is a crying need in our community and everywhere across the country," he said.

"This innovative proposal to help train the workforce and advance science is crucial for our community."