PORTLAND, OR — Worksystems, the Portland Metro Workforce Development Board, in partnership with Clackamas Workforce Partnership (CWP), has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to support workforce training and job placement in Oregon’s behavioral health sector. The HECC is awarding a total of $1.5 million through the Governor’s Statewide Activities Grant to strengthen the state’s workforce in two high-need industries: housing production and behavioral health care.

This award will expand Worksystems’ innovative Peer Worker Training Project, designed to recruit, train, and place Peer Support Specialists in behavioral health positions across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The program aims to train 80 new peer workers, with a strong focus on culturally specific and bilingual service delivery to meet the diverse needs of the Portland metro area. The expansion into Clackamas County, along with online learning options, creates more opportunities for individuals in rural communities.

“Worksystems is proud to be a partner in strengthening Oregon’s behavioral health workforce,” said Andrew McGough, Executive Director of Worksystems. “This investment allows us to continue building inclusive career pathways while helping local employers recruit and retain qualified talent in one of the most critical and understaffed sectors.”

The career coaching and training program builds on a successful pilot and includes partnerships with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon and United We Heal, offering graduates a path to career advancement through Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

The grant supports urgent workforce needs identified in a recent HECC-commissioned statewide assessment, which found that 32 of Oregon’s 36 counties lack even one behavioral health provider per 1,000 residents. This initiative directly aligns with Governor Tina Kotek’s efforts to address statewide shortages in critical service professions.

To learn more about the Peer Worker Training Project, please visit worksystems.org/healthcare-social-assistance.

The activities supported by the Governor’s Statewide Activities Grant are funded through the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I, and administered by the HECC Office of Workforce Investments.