Comprehensive Healthcare support helps graduate counseling program add faculty

Comprehensive Healthcare recently committed over $300,000 to Central Washington University to help fund a new faculty position for the Mental Health Counseling (MHC) graduate program.

The additional funding will support the program’s continued growth, and it aligns with both organizations’ commitment to providing innovative and integrated healthcare to individuals and families across Central Washington.

The contribution, announced Monday, complements a 2024 grant Comprehensive Healthcare provided to revitalize the MHC program at CWU.

“As demand for behavioral health services continues to grow, workforce shortages remain one of the greatest challenges facing healthcare providers statewide, particularly in rural and underserved communities,” Comprehensive Healthcare CEO Jodi Daly said. “By partnering with CWU to strengthen its counseling program, we are investing in a stronger pipeline of future behavioral health professionals who will be prepared to meet the evolving needs of our communities.”

Vice President for University Advancement Paul Elstone shared that the partnership has already made a meaningful difference for the students in the first cohort of the MHC program.

“Partnerships like this make real progress possible and reflect the spirit of our CWU Futures Campaign,” he said. “Comprehensive Healthcare's investment is helping shape the highly prepared, skilled graduates our region depends on.”

The MHC graduate program was originally established in the 1970s but went on hiatus in 2023 due to funding challenges. Housed in the Department of Psychology, the program provides clinical training that prepares students to pursue state licensure as mental health counselors.

Since the MHC program's relaunch in January 2025, thanks an initial gift of $770,000, the Comprehensive Healthcare Fund has supported preliminary operational costs, curriculum redesign, and the hiring of new faculty and support for clinic staff.

Seven students in the initial cohort are on track to graduate in summer 2027, and 11 students have been admitted to the second cohort.

The additional position also supports CWU's goal of receiving accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the nationally recognized standard for counselor education.

Accreditation would reflect the program's rigorous academic standards and equip graduates for more competitive licensing, employment opportunities, and career advancement, which would ultimately strengthen the pool of qualified providers available to serve Central Washington communities.

“We are immensely grateful for the support that Comprehensive Healthcare has provided our department over the past two years,” Psychology Department Chair Heidi Perez said. “Continuing to grow this program reflects our joint commitment to ensuring the neighbors who depend on these services receive the care they need.”

Comprehensive Healthcare is one of the largest behavioral health organizations in the state of Washington, serving clients in the Greater Columbia Region. The Joint Commission-accredited nonprofit organization has been providing compassionate, individualized behavioral healthcare since 1972.

To learn more about Comprehensive Healthcare, visit their website.