BBCC and WVC to offer new BAS in behavioral health

 Two community colleges will collaborate on a new degree program designed to address the lack of behavioral health professionals in the local region, they announced Tuesday in a press release.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges on Oct. 31 approved the joint program proposal for Big Bend Community College and Wenatchee Valley College to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Behavioral Health degree to area students. This program will be delivered in partnership between the two colleges.

“BBCC is thrilled to partner with Wenatchee Valley College to offer a BAS in Behavioral Health to help address a shortage of qualified behavioral health professionals in North Central Washington,” said Dr. Bryce Humpherys, BBCC Vice President of Learning and Student Success.  

The BAS in Behavioral Health degree is designed to provide program graduates with the practical knowledge and skills necessary to enter the behavioral health workforce. The program is directly aligned with the new Behavioral Health Support Specialist credential (BHSS) in Washington State. Graduates of the program can find employment delivering evidence-based interventions for common conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders as part of an integrated care team at community health, rural health, and hospital centers.

The BAS in Behavioral Health degree builds on an associate degree, providing junior and senior-level courses that establish a strong understanding of human behavior, mental health disorders, and the principles of counseling. In the senior year of the program, students apply their learning in a three-quarter field practicum with a local behavioral health provider.

Graduates of the program are eligible to continue their education into graduate school including programs such as Master of Social Work, counseling, and other human service-related degrees.  

“I could not be prouder of this work,” said Dr. Tod Treat, WVC Vice President of Instruction. “WVC moved toward a BAS in Behavioral Health to address the persistent shortage of access to mental health support for local families. While WVC is seeking to address the problem locally, it is a state and national issue. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than one in five adults live with a mental health condition or addiction but they cannot find the care they need to thrive. We are proud to be able to address this critical issue while also providing advancement opportunities for local graduates of our programs in chemical dependency, criminal justice, early childhood education, and other programs.”

BBCC and WVC are grateful for the support from community partners such as Thriving Together North Central Washington, Central Washington Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) and Cambia Health Foundation.

“The intersection between behavioral health workforce shortages and the demands for services have proved difficult for individuals to access care when needed,” said Dell Anderson, Renew Grant Behavioral Health & Wellness Executive Director. “I’m grateful to Big Bend Community College & Wenatchee Valley College for partnering with local organizations in creating educational degrees to support this work and allow residents opportunities to complete their education locally.  I’m excited about the potential of growing our own!”

The colleges are now seeking accreditation approval with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Once that approval is secured, more information will be available regarding the student admission process and curriculum. 

BBCC and WVC are working towards the goal of launching the BAS in Behavioral Health program in Fall 2025.

“Many students at Big Bend have expressed interest in pursuing this type of degree for some time and we are happy to provide them with this opportunity,” said Humpherys.