Eugene, OR— Feb 5, 2023– Bushnell University is excited to announce a new partnership with Douglas Education Service District (DESD) to give educational opportunities for students in the local Douglas County community. The partnership is funded through a new $7 million grant DESD received from the U.S. Department of Education for School-Based Mental Health programs.
You can read the full press release announcing the grant in January on Douglas ESD’s website and at Roseburg’s KPIC local news.
The funds are intended to recruit, train and retain school-based mental health service providers, as well as increase the diversity and cultural/linguistic competency among providers.
The grant will provide funding in order to attract more students to work in school-based mental health counseling and create more pathways for them to study while staying within the local Douglas County community. The benefits will also offer students the opportunity to to gain real-world experience while they learn.
Dr. Ryan Melton, LPC, ACS, is the associate dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling at Bushnell University and lives in Roseburg.
“As a resident of Douglas County and mental health provider, I understand the struggles our community faces in terms of meeting growing mental health challenges and not having enough professionals to serve the enormous need,” said Dr. Melton. “This is a major step in meeting this need by ‘growing our own professionals’ which allows local residents to earn a master’s degree while living, studying and working in Douglas County. The School of Psychology and Counseling at Bushnell University is excited to partner with the Douglas ESD to increase representation of diverse, marginalized and underrepresented behavioral health counselors in this community.”
“Douglas ESD is grateful for the partnership with Bushnell University,” said Amy-Rose Wootton Douglas Education Service District behavioral health services director. This Spring Douglas ESD and Bushnell University will begin the process of recruiting individuals to participate in this innovative program.
Bushnell University and DESD are committed to providing schools with the best mental-health counseling opportunities possible. This new partnership and grant will help ensure that students in the local community have access to the resources they need to succeed.
About Bushnell’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Bushnell University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program prepares students for a career by providing the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective counselors in a variety of settings, including schools, private practice, community mental health centers, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations.
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This accreditation ensures that students receive a quality education that meets the highest standards of professional practice. The curriculum focuses on developing an understanding of human behavior and mental health issues, as well as providing students with the skills and evidenced based practices needed to effectively counsel individuals, couples, families, and groups.
The program consists of 60 credit hours of coursework divided into two main areas: clinical courses, and field experience. Early program courses provide an overview of counseling theories and techniques as well as an introduction to research methods, ethics and culturally informed practices in counseling. Clinical courses focus on developing clinical skills such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention strategies for working with individuals with substance use and other mental health disorders as well as specific training on couples, marriage and family interventions.
In addition to coursework, students must complete a supervised field experience practicum and internships in order to graduate from the program. During this experience, students will gain hands-on experience working with clients in the Bushnell Counseling Center and in the community with diverse client populations. under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional. This experience provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting while gaining valuable insight into the profession.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for licensure exams in their state or jurisdiction. With successful completion of these exams and post graduate supervision they can become licensed professional counselors (LPCs) or licensed clinical mental health counselors (LCMHCs). These credentials allow graduates to work independently as counselors or pursue further education at the doctoral level if desired.
Bushnell University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling masters program provides an excellent foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in this field. The curriculum is comprehensive yet flexible enough to accommodate individual interests and life demands while providing essential knowledge and skills needed for success in this profession. With its CACREP accreditation status and supervised field experience requirement, graduates can be confident that they have received quality training that meets professional standards for practice in this field.
To schedule an interview with faculty, administration, or recent graduates please contact Lars Coburn, Director of University Relations at 541-684-7320.
About Bushnell University
Founded in 1895 Bushnell University helps students discover and answer God’s call on their lives. Devoted to offering a Christ-centered environment, Bushnell encourages students to grow in wisdom, informed by faith, and leading to lives of service. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the University was founded by pastor-educator Eugene C. Sanderson and pioneer businessman and church leader James A. Bushnell. Bushnell is the largest private university in Eugene’s vibrant university district. The University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees for undergraduate and graduate studies through course formats on campus, online, and evening, as well as online programs for MBA, MA in Leadership, and M.Ed. More information about the University is available at www.bushnell.edu
