The University of Dayton (UD) has secured an additional $278,000 in funding to support students in the clinical mental health counseling program, thanks to the Great Minds Fellowship Program from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. This is on top of a previous grant awarded in summer 2023 for $331,705. The initiative aims to address the ongoing workforce shortage at mental health agencies across Ohio and to encourage students to pursue careers in Community Behavioral Health.
A Dual-Purpose Grant
The Great Minds Fellowship is designed to provide financial assistance to graduate students pursuing careers in community-based mental health care. The goal is to help alleviate the financial burden of graduate education while also strengthening Ohio’s mental health workforce. Students who accept the fellowship are required to work at one of Ohio’s 1,000+ state-identified behavioral health centers for at least a year after graduation.
Empowering the Next Generation of Mental Health Counselors
Meredith Montgomery, associate professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services at UD, is using the additional funds to provide support to students in their final two years of the clinical mental health counseling program. The funding will go toward scholarships, paid internships, licensure exam preparation costs, and other essential expenses associated with earning the degree.
This additional $5,000 per student, on top of the previous $10,000 stipend, has allowed UD to extend the fellowship to seven additional students, bringing the total number of Great Minds Fellows at UD to 40. The fellowship’s flexible structure enables students to complete their internship and required post-graduation work at a variety of community behavioral health centers across Ohio.
Personal Impact on Students
Elizabeth Ruffing, one of the students receiving funding, shared her gratitude for the fellowship, stating, “Having this funding has pushed me to consider staying in a community-based mental health center when I may not have considered that before. I’ve found peace in realizing that I’m not going to do it just because the contract says to, but because I’ve found a passion for this population and the lives I’m impacting where I am.”
This sentiment reflects the broader goal of the program—to inspire long-term commitment to mental health care careers and improve the quality of services available to underserved communities.
Strengthening Ohio’s Mental Health Workforce
Susan Davies, chair of the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services, emphasized that the funding not only provides much-needed financial relief but also plays a pivotal role in developing a robust mental health workforce in Ohio. She said, “By easing the financial burden of graduate education, we are helping dedicated future counselors stay committed to serving communities in need.”
Through this partnership with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, UD is helping to fill critical gaps in the mental health sector, while empowering students to serve in a field that is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
This strategic investment by the state of Ohio underscores the importance of community-based mental health services and highlights the crucial role of education and financial support in ensuring that students are prepared to meet the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities across the state.
