BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Students at a local higher education institute may benefit from a new grant award.

The Area Healthcare Education Center for Western Washington received $55,000 in a grant from Cambia Health Foundation to provide their students with paid practicum hours.

The education center is hosted at Whatcom Community College and received the funds for their Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) students.

The college says that the program will serve at least twenty students that will enter the workforce as entry-level behavioral health professionals or specialized practitioners. The program is aimed to assist students with financial barriers from a loss of income during the usually unpaid practicum hours.

Students receiving degrees in certain fields like healthcare and education are typically required to do practicum which is similar to an unpaid internship.