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The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health

With the nation's first bachelor's degree in child behavioral health, the Ballmer Institute is creating a new mental health profession to build the next generation of the youth behavioral health workforce and expand mental health support for children and families.

Explore the Ballmer Institute
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An Undergraduate Training Program in Child Behavioral Health

The Ballmer Institute offers a one-of-a-kind undergraduate child behavioral health degree, training providers in evidence-based behavioral health promotion, prevention, and early intervention strategies to promote youth well-being.

Bachelor's-level behavioral health providers are prepared to work alongside licensed master's-level providers, such as psychologists and clinical social workers. This growing profession will expand opportunities for existing positions such as behavioral health interventionists.

Learn About the Bachelor's in Child Behavioral Health
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Applied Practice for Child Behavioral Health Majors

Students in the child behavioral health degree program learn in and out of the classroom to improve youth mental health. Child behavioral health majors complete 700 supervised hours working with youth in K–12 schools, pediatric clinics, and community organizations, delivering services and interventions such as stress management, problem-solving, and facing fearful situations.

Learn About Our Process
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Scholarship Support

The Ballmer Institute provides scholarship opportunities to support undergraduate behavioral health majors pursuing careers in youth behavioral health.

Find Ballmer Institute Scholarships

Ballmer Institute by the Numbers

  • 1st Bachelor's in Child Behavioral Health in the Nation
  • 3 degree options (BA, BS, Bed)
  • 700 Hours of Applied Practice for Child Behavioral Health Majors

Experienced Faculty

Building on the UO's strength in education and psychology, we bring together clinical, tenure-track, and research faculty with diverse expertise in youth mental health to train and build a new children's behavioral health workforce.

Meet Our People
Ariel Williamson

Ariel Williamson, PhD, DBSM

  • Associate Professor

As a clinical psychologist with advanced certification in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (DBSM), Ariel Williamson specializes in sleep health inequities and behavioral interventions in youth.

Atika Khurana

Atika Khurana, PhD

  • Professor, Prevention Science and Counseling Psychology

Atika Khurana studies self-regulation in children and adolescents, including how screen-based media affects their attention, sleep, and overall health.

Miriam White-Pedeaux

Miriam White-Pedeaux, OTD

  • Assistant Clinical Professor

Miriam White-Pedeaux holds a doctorate in Occupational Therapy and has extensive clinical experience working with youth in schools, mental health agencies, and the healthcare system.

Sarah Kate Bearman

Sarah Kate Bearman, PhD

  • Professor, Special Education and Clinical Sciences

Sarah Kate Bearman's work is focused on developing mental health interventions that are accessible and sustainable for youth and families in resource-limited settings.

Cody Gion

Cody Gion, PhD

  • Assistant Clinical Professor

With a strong background in special education and school psychology, Cody Gion applies his work supporting youth in schools to train aspiring children's behavioral health professionals.

Alexis Merculief

Alexis Merculief, PhD

  • Assistant Professor

Alexis Merculief is a developmental scientist whose research explores how Indigenous culture, language, and parenting practices shape early childhood cognitive development and equity in education.

Our Role in Building a Youth Behavioral Health Workforce

The Ballmer Institute trains bachelor's-level behavioral health providers and is making behavioral health care available to more children nationwide.

  • NEWS

    Licensure Pathway for Child Behavioral Health Majors

    An Oregon law allows bachelor's-level behavioral health professionals with a mental health degree to become licensed practitioners, expanding access to early intervention and prevention services.

    Explore the Ballmer Bill

  • News

    The Nation's First Bachelor's in Child Behavioral Health

    The Ballmer Institute offers a first-of-its-kind undergraduate child behavioral health degree in the United States, making its graduates among the first in the nation to earn a bachelor's in child behavioral health.

    Meet the First Graduates

  • News

    UO Receives $125M Grant to Expand Child Behavioral Health Training

    The grant will support build-out of a bachelor’s-degree level behavioral health profession nationwide.

    Learn More About the Grant

Learn More

With our undergraduate child behavioral health degree and novel approaches to mental health support, the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health is a national model for expanding access to mental health services for all children and families to address the youth mental health crisis.
Explore the Ballmer Institute