The Great Minds Fellowship is ideal for students looking to make a difference and contribute to growing Ohio’s behavioral health workforce. The program will help students jump-start a successful future in their chosen career path while allowing communities across Ohio to better care for those living with mental health and substance abuse disorders.
At Ohio’s two-year and four-year colleges and universities, the Great Minds Fellowship is a program available to students within two years of graduating with degrees or certificates in social work, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, psychiatric/mental health nursing, and substance abuse/addiction counseling.
Great Minds Fellows at participating colleges and universities will be eligible for up to $10,000 during their undergraduate and graduate studies for scholarship opportunities to assist with the costs of obtaining their degrees or certificates; paid internships at one of Ohio’s Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and the costs of required license and certification preparation and exams (and other costs related to the degree or certificate). Funding will be available beginning in the fall 2023 semester.
PROJECT PERIOD
Through Fall semester of 2024 with a final report due by March 30, 2025.
ELIGIBILITY
Students – Great Minds Fellows
Students who are within two years of graduating with degrees or certificates in Social Work (CIP 44.0701, 44.0799, 51.1503), Marriage and Family Therapy (CIP 51.1505), Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (CIP 51.1508), Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing (CIP 51.3810), and Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (CIP 51.1501), are eligible to participate in the Great Minds Fellowship. Students must commit to performing their internship at a participating Ohio Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) and, upon graduation, commit to employment at a pg. 3 Great Minds Fellowship Guidance Document – Colleges and Universities participating Ohio CBHC for at least one year. Students are required to sign an agreement with the State of Ohio, committing to both the internship placement and post-graduation employment requirements.
Post-Graduation Requirement
Great Minds Fellows must commit to at least one year of employment at a participating Ohio Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) upon graduation. Fellows are not obligated to post-graduation employment with the same CBHC where they complete their Great Minds Fellowship-funded internship.