Three Southern California universities have received a $110-million donation to expand their mental health programs and address a critical shortage of social workers and counsellors across the state.
UCLA, California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Dominguez Hills announced on Monday that the Ballmer Group will fund a major effort to provide scholarships, grants, and enhanced clinical resources. The initiative aims to train a new generation of mental health professionals to serve some of Los Angeles' most underserved communities, including South and East L.A.
The Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie Ballmer, is making the investment as California grapples with a severe deficit of mental health support. According to a January 2026 report from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, 55 of the state’s 58 counties are experiencing shortages of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Los Angeles County faces a shortfall of between 20 to 35 per cent.
The high cost of advanced degrees is a significant barrier for many aspiring mental health professionals. A master's of social welfare at UCLA can cost a California resident over $65,000 without financial aid, while a one-year social work degree at Cal State L.A. is approximately $17,500. University administrators believe this new funding will make these career paths more accessible. "The grants and the scholarships will absolutely help with enrollment and retention," said Heather Lattimer, provost at Cal State L.A.
Cal State L.A. to graduate 1,000 professionals
Cal State L.A. will receive $48 million of the total donation, with the goal of graduating more than 1,000 mental health professionals within the next five years. The funds will provide over 1,000 scholarships and grants for students in its master of social work programs.
Tasha Willis, a program director for the master of social work, noted that Cal State L.A. graduates often remain in the Los Angeles area to practice, particularly in lower-income neighbourhoods with limited access to care. The university has a strong track record of serving the local community, a mission this funding will directly support.
Recent graduates emphasized the impact financial support can have. Mayra Vargas, who graduated in 2023 while working a full-time job, said additional scholarships would have likely attracted more students to the program. "People that weren’t able to afford the program can now get that education," Vargas said. Her classmate, Nataly Degante, who raised two children during her studies, echoed the sentiment that easing the financial burden is key to growing the workforce.
CSU Dominguez Hills targets South L.A.
California State University, Dominguez Hills will use its $29-million share to launch Toros Heal L.A., a new initiative designed to bolster mental health resources in South Los Angeles. The grant will support around 700 students, with 75 per cent of the funds dedicated to scholarships of up to $18,000 per student annually.
This financial support will allow students to focus on their clinical training and internships instead of working outside jobs to make ends meet. The initiative also aims to build stronger partnerships with local graduate schools and clinics to create employment pipelines within the community.
Dr. Adriean Mancillas, chair of the counselling program at CSU Dominguez Hills, highlighted a common challenge where newly trained professionals leave for more affluent areas to open private practices. The grant is designed to counteract this trend.
A lot of mental health professionals, in general, once they’re trained, they go to more affluent areas to work privately. This gift is going to help reduce that debt and then encourage relationships between students who are trained in that area to then go back and work in that area.
The focus is on creating a sustainable workforce that is from the community and for the community, addressing a long-standing disparity in care. This investment is part of a wider effort to improve health outcomes, an issue that has been brought into sharp focus by recent events like federal cuts to Medi-Cal affecting many L.A. residents. Similarly, leaders are pushing for San Diego's first permanent Holocaust museum as part of a wider effort to address community needs.
UCLA Develops youth mental health minor
UCLA will receive $33 million, which will be distributed across its psychology department, school of social welfare, and the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. A key component of UCLA’s plan is the development of a new undergraduate minor in youth behavioral health.
Dr. Bruce Chorpita, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at UCLA, said the minor will offer specialized coursework that goes "above and beyond what you would get as a regular psych major." This new program is a direct response to the growing mental health crisis among young people, who report increasing struggles with anxiety and stress. Creating specialized training programs can help address complex issues, including those stemming from tragic events such as bullying-related fatalities in local schools.
The funding will also support child-focused fellowships and students in the master of social welfare program. UCLA, which began as a teachers' college in the 19th century and has evolved into a world-renowned research institution, continues to adapt its programs to meet pressing societal needs. Its health system is one of the most comprehensive in the world, and this donation will further enhance its community impact.
Olivia Hall, a second-year psychology undergraduate at UCLA, expressed her excitement about the new minor. "In middle school, I just observed around me this mental health crisis within my generation," Hall said. She feels that the new opportunities will motivate more students to pursue careers in youth mental health. "The minor and new training opportunities are ‘so important in motivating my generation in the field,’" Hall says.
The investment by the Ballmer Group represents a significant step toward building a more robust and representative mental health workforce in Southern California, with the universities poised to train thousands of new professionals in the coming years. For a region facing complex social and economic challenges, including the need for new developments like the Flagler Center project in Sweetwater, a stronger mental health infrastructure is considered vital for community well-being.
