Astoria High applies for free pre‑apprenticeship in mental‑health services

Astoria High School staff described a submitted application for a pre‑apprenticeship program that would give students a direct pathway to credentialing in mental‑health services and substance‑use counseling. The presenter (Presenter, S6) told the board the program would pair existing high‑school psychology courses with college coursework and weekly online pre‑apprenticeship instruction funded by an outside partner.

The presenter said the district already offers Psychology 101 and 201 articulated with Clatsop Community College and that, if approved, United We Heal would cover the cost of the college‑level Psychology 215 course. “We have submitted our application for this pre‑apprenticeship program,” the presenter said, adding the coursework and one‑hour‑a‑week online instruction would be free to students and to the district.

Nut graf: The program is designed to put students on a career track to earn a qualified mental health associate credential or a certified alcohol and drug counseling certificate while still in high school. Supporters argued the pathway could reduce postsecondary barriers and expand local workforce pipelines in behavioral health.

Details provided to the board include that local instructors would teach the high‑school courses and that articulated college credits would be coordinated with Clatsop Community College. Board discussion did not record any formal vote or district commitment; the presenter said the application is pending and the district is hopeful for approval in time to forecast program enrollment for the spring term.

The board did not record objections to the concept during the presentation, and members asked for follow‑up on implementation steps and timelines should the application be approved. The district will return with next steps if the program secures final approval.