Senate Bill would increase rural mental and behavioral health workforce recruitment

Programs to recruit and train behavioral and mental health professionals could receive $1.1 million in the next fiscal year under proposed legislation.

Washington has two health education centers that recruit students from rural and underserved communities into health professions. These centers are located at Eastern Washington University and Whatcom Community College and are funded by the state Department of Health and the University of Washington.

These education centers run programs including high school paid internships and rural health centers, science sleepovers for middle school student...