Local gift of Comprehensive Healthcare restores CWU mental health program

A financial gift of nearly $770,000 from Comprehensive Healthcare to the Central Washington University Foundation will be used to reestablish the mental health counseling graduate program at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. This donation aims to address the need for behavioral health specialists in the region by enabling the university to prepare master’s-level candidates for graduation and work in the community as early as summer 2026.

The mental health counseling program at Central Washington University provides clinical training to graduate students, allowing them to seek state licensure as mental health counselors upon completion. The program, which was originally established in the 1970s, had been put on hiatus in 2023 due to a lack of program faculty.

The funds received from Comprehensive Healthcare will be allocated towards hiring a team for the mental health counseling program, including two faculty members, a program coordinator, a clinic manager, an interim program coordinator, and graduate assistants. Additionally, the financial gift will cover some additional operational costs essential for program operations.

Officials have set a goal to start classes in January and are hopeful that this revitalized program will help address the significant workforce shortage experienced by community behavioral health organizations in recent years. These organizations have been struggling to meet the growing demand for mental health services in local communities.