November 12, 2024

Media Contact: 
Rebecca Pettingill, BBCC Communications, 509-793-2043

On October 31, 2024, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges 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 behavioral health conditions (i.e. depression, anxiety, substance use disorders) as part of an integrated care team at community health, rural health, and hospital centers. Graduates of the BAS Behavioral Health 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.  

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. 

“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. 

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all students and employees and provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu. 

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses: 

To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Mish ee twie 1321A, (509) 682-6716, title9@wvc.edu. 

To request disability accommodations: Student Access Manager, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.