Developing a behavioral health workforce for team based care

This complements the DBHDS services authority to hire rehabilitated peer recovery specialists with prior convictions related to substance use or mental illness. The state has implemented a robust two-tiered reimbursement system for standard-level peer specialists, offering additional compensation to those with bachelor’s degrees, promoting retention through aligning market-based compensation with education level. Florida’s Center for Behavioral Health Workforce has taken a three-pronged approach to enhance workforce training that includes the New Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) Funding Program.

• This might involve lobbying for increased funding for mental health services, which in turn can lead to the expansion of the workforce and the reduction of burnout rates among practitioners.
• In our partnership with the National Governors Association, I am pleased to share that Futuro Health has begun exciting work to assist the state of Wyoming map educational pathways to address the shortage of behavioral health workers with a focus on growing the certificated workforce and identify stackable credentials.
• Similarly, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), is investing over $15.6 million in scholarships to support behavioral health students across the state and $120 million to create new Wellness Coach (Levels I and II) roles, initially supported through grants but intended to be reimbursable in the outyears.
• In the realm of behavioral health, the synergy between various stakeholders is not just beneficial but essential for the evolution and enhancement of the workforce.

Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program

These programs should integrate knowledge from psychology, social work, nursing, and psychiatry. This necessitates a multifaceted strategy that not only focuses on increasing the number of professionals but also on enhancing their resilience and adaptability in the face of changing societal needs. These portfolios can be shared with potential employers, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Most workforce development programs serve only those with earned graduate degrees. For a landscape analysis of post-COVID healthcare workforce innovations in Massachusetts, see this post. Interested in more of the Project on Workforce’s research on the Massachusetts healthcare workforce?

While the plan is specific to the children’s behavioral health workforce, its strategies and recommendations are applicable across the field. It includes strategies to increase workforce diversity, expand the peer support workforce, expand credential portability, and How Right Now: Mental Health Resources reduce administrative burden on staff, among others. Connecticut established a similar center for the nursing workforce in 2013, but does not yet have one dedicated to behavioral health. Maine, for example, raised rates for behavioral health services by 22% in 2023 and transformed its rate-setting system to ensure rates would keep up with inflation and the costs of providing care over time.

Innovative Education and Training Models for Behavioral Health

This might involve lobbying for increased funding for mental health services, which in turn can lead to the expansion of the workforce and the reduction of burnout rates among practitioners. For instance, the inclusion of peer support specialists alongside clinical psychologists can enhance the continuum of care, providing clients with a more holistic support system. This alignment ensures that the workforce is not only equipped to meet current demands but is also adaptable to the evolving landscape of healthcare needs. These alliances are pivotal in addressing the multifaceted challenges that impede access to and the quality of mental health services. In the realm of behavioral health, the development of a robust workforce is contingent upon the cultivation of strategic alliances that serve as conduits for expertise, resources, and innovation. A community center might work with a university to create a specialized curriculum that addresses the specific mental health needs of its population.

Barriers to Entry and Challenges

Optimizing the Unlicensed Skilled Workforce by clearly defining their roles and expanding their scope of practice ensures they can effectively contribute to various care settings, aligning with newly created provider types and supported by robust quality assurance measures. During the roundtable, participants highlighted the role of effective mental health triage, which prioritizes assessing psychological and emotional stability, identifying and mitigating the risk of self-harm, and providing immediate treatment tailored to the individual’s specific needs. Participants also emphasized that workforce policies promoting team-based care should be carefully designed to ensure quality is maintained. These models facilitate collaboration among multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and individualized care that focuses on recovery and whole-person health.