Record $110M In Grants To LA County Schools Will Train Thousands Of New Mental Health Workers

LOS ANGELES — Three Southern California universities on Monday announced they have received grants totaling $110 million that officials say will dramatically increase the schools' capacity to train mental health professionals serving children and families in the Southland.

The grants were given by Ballmer Group, the organization run by Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Ballmer.

California State University, Los Angeles will receive the largest share — $48 million — followed by $33 million for the University of California, Los Angeles and $29 million for California State University, Dominguez Hills. Each grant is the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the two Cal State campuses, officials said.

The investment is aimed at addressing what officials describe as an urgent shortage of youth mental health professionals while expanding career pathways into counseling and social work.

At Cal State LA, the funding will help the university prepare more than 1,000 new social workers and family counselors through its Master of Social Work and School-Based Family Counseling programs. The gift will double the university’s one-year MSW program, increase its two-year MSW program by 50% and double its school-based counseling program, with much of the funding going toward student scholarships, according to the university.

At Cal State Dominguez Hills, the $29 million grant will support scholarships, licensure preparation and emergency aid for students studying community and behavioral health fields as part of a new initiative called Toros Heal LA, which aims to train hundreds of additional counselors and social workers to serve South Los Angeles communities, according to the school.

At UCLA, the $33 million grant will support new and expanded training programs across the university aimed at strengthening the pipeline of youth mental health professionals. Funding will support initiatives in the university’s psychology, social welfare, and psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences departments, including a new undergraduate minor in youth behavioral health, expanded fellowships and community partnerships for social work students, and additional postdoctoral training in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology.

Officials said the programs are designed to increase training opportunities and early-career pathways for students preparing to work with children and families facing mental health challenges.