Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot Grants
Limited submissionForecasted
Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot Grants support Virginia public colleges in expanding in-person student care and helping social work and counseling graduates earn licensure.
Funder: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Proposal submission)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per year; $200,000 maximum per institution, over up to 2.5 years plus a 60-day runway
Summary: Supports Virginia public colleges and universities in expanding in-person student mental health care while helping social work and counseling graduates achieve licensure.
Key Information: Institutions must already employ a DHP-approved supervisor and may submit only one proposal across all campuses.
Description
The Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Program is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with the Virginia Health Care Foundation. It addresses the difficulties institutions face in attracting and retaining an on-campus mental health workforce, alongside student mental health needs exacerbated by the pandemic.
The program serves two purposes: expanding in-person mental health services for students at Virginia public higher education institutions and developing the mental health workforce. Awards support graduates of Master of Social Work or Master of Counseling programs as they provide supervised care in campus counseling or student health centers while pursuing clinical social work or professional counseling licensure. Established as a pilot in 2022, the program became permanent in July 2026.
