Professional Addictions Counseling

The Behavioral Health Scholarship offers scholarships plus tuition assistance. Scholarships cover tuition and fees for courses relevant to an approved program of study. Tuition assistance funds are awarded at $500 for 1 to 5 credits and $1,000 for 6 or more credits, and can be utilized for expenses such as books, supplies, and technology. Note that tuition assistance funds will first settle any outstanding balance on a student's account before disbursing any remaining funds to the student for other uses.

Students who receive a confirmation email are eligible for funds. When a student enrolls for the semester, the AHCCCS scholarship office is notified and determines which courses can be funded for the scholarship. Once this occurs the AHCCCS scholarship office notifies Rio’s student financial aid office of the amount awarded and funds are automatically applied to the student's amount owed.

To qualify for either the Behavioral Health Scholarship applicants must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• Have an active admissions application on file at a Maricopa Community College
• Have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file
• Be enrolled in an eligible non-credit or credit program
• Meet the minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) of a grade C or better
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or alien admitted as a refugee
• Enroll in courses at a participating Maricopa Community College

Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in disqualification from eligibility for either scholarship. The Behavioral Health Scholarship is exclusively offered at Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, and South Mountain. Failing to enroll in courses at any of these colleges will render applicants ineligible for the Behavioral Health Scholarship.

If you have previously been awarded the scholarship and continue to meet the eligibility requirements, your eligibility will be reviewed each semester, eliminating the need for reapplication. You will receive notification of your eligibility via email. In the event that you successfully complete your current program of study and opt to pursue another eligible program, there is no need to submit a new application. Simply notify us upon the conclusion of your current program.

Funding is exclusively available for courses taken at the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Scholarships and tuition assistance will be available through the Fall 2024 semester, with disbursements expected to conclude September 30, 2024. In the event of an approval for extended funding, colleges participating in the program will be promptly notified, ensuring students are informed of any changes regarding eligibility and funding availability.

Yes. Check Rio’s summer block policy and talk to your Academic Advisor to determine the summer courses available in your program.

Students are eligible for the scholarship as long as they continue to meet SAP requirements. Students do not need to reapply for the program upon return. Students should contact the district AHCCCS scholarship office upon return to confirm continued eligibility.

SAP is checked at the end each semester. If a student does not meet SAP the following semester is considered a warning semester. The warning semester allows a student one semester to try to get their SAP status back into good standing. During the warning semester a student would still be funded for the scholarship. After the warning semester if the student does not meet SAP they will have to wait until they are meeting SAP again (or files an approved SAP Appeal) to be eligible for the scholarship. Once SAP is met, they would notify the scholarship office to check their account, if they meet SAP they are eligible again for the scholarship.

Students who fail to meet the grade requirements of a “C” or higher or who withdraw from their courses, or receive a Y for inactivity will be required to repay any scholarship and tuition assistance funds obtained for failed or dropped courses. This repayment policy applies universally, with no exceptions. It is crucial to remain enrolled and pass your courses, as failure to do so will result in debt accumulation. Once the debt is acquired, it becomes your responsibility to arrange for payment. Should you require guidance or wish to explore repayment options, we encourage you to reach out to Rio’s Student Business Services Office for assistance.

Transitioning to an ineligible program necessitates repayment of any scholarship and tuition assistance funds disbursed to you thus far. Funding remains available should you decide to change your major to an alternative approved program of study at Rio or any other participating college. To prevent repayment for the BEHS scholarship, students can only transition to other BEHS programs; it does not apply to transfer from BEHS to HCBS. You can view a list of approved programs on the AHCCCS Scholarship page.

Students who receive the Behavioral Health Scholarship must commit to working as behavioral health workers for an approved provider for a minimum of two years or for a duration equal to the length of their program, whichever is longer. Your work obligation commences only upon program completion, allowing flexibility in your employment choices throughout the program. This requirement applies exclusively to the Behavioral Health Scholarship.

If a student fails to honor their work commitment by withdrawing from the program or by failing to complete the full duration of the commitment, they will be responsible for repayment to MCCCD.

Unfortunately, exceptions cannot be made regarding the AHCCCS Scholarship funding. It is imperative that recipients assume responsibility for repaying any funds disbursed for courses in which they failed or withdrew. Upon the Financial Aid Office's update of your scholarship award, an email notification will be sent to inform you of the adjustment in your student account. You will then have the opportunity to repay these funds to your college's Student Business Services Office. This repayment policy applies universally, with no exceptions.

When a student completes a program, they can continue on the AHCCCS scholarship with another eligible program. A student receiving a certificate of completion can enroll in another certificate program or pursue an AAS. A student completing an AAS can transfer to a Bachelor’s program if one is offered within their scholarship. Lists of programs are listed in the AHCCCS Scholarship Application page. Students wanting to continue need to notify the district AHCCCS scholarship office so their account can be updated. It is advised that students contact their academic advisor for assistance.

For more information about the scholarships offered, including the requirements for eligibility, a list of eligible programs, participating colleges, and the application links, please visit the AHCCCS Scholarship webpage.

For any additional questions, please contact AHCCCS-Scholarships@domail.maricopa.edu.