Top

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

Published in:

01-11-2019 | Care | Point of View

Developing the Behavioral Health Workforce: Lessons from the States

Author: Nicholas A. Covino

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 6/2019

Abstract

Recent demands for increased care for people with behavioral health problems often miss the severe shortage of skilled workers in the field. For many years, researchers, clinical administrators and policy makers have been calling for curricula revision at professional schools, increased financial incentives for employee recruitment and retention, increased reimbursement rates, and greater attention to diversity within the health care workforce. States have created special task forces and commissions to make recommendations for improving this essential element of access to behavioral health care. A review of their findings shows a remarkable similarity of recommendations and a clear path forward.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health & Human Services. (2011). HCUP facts and figures: Statistics on hospital-based care in the United States, 2009. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Rockville, MD.

Anthony, S., Boozang, P., Chu, B., & Striar, A., (2019). Ready for reform: Behavioral health care in Massachusetts. Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts Foundation. Retrieved from https://bluecrossmafoundation.org/sites/default/files/download/publication/Model_BH_ExecSummary_January2019_Final.pdf.

California Future Health Workforce Commission. (2019). Meeting the demand of health: Final Report of the California Future Health Workforce Commission. Retrieved from https://futurehealthworkforce.org/our-work/finalreport/.

Citino, C., Gibbons, K., Hugo, M., Balasalle, J., & Kirsners, E. (2015). The challenges of private practice: A study of clinicians’ experiences providing mental health care in Massachusetts. Hadley MA: University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. Retrieved from http://www.donahue.umassp.edu/documents/FINAL_CU_Report_4_21_15.pdf.

Citino, C., & Goldman, M. (2018). The face of the human services sector. Hadley MA: University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. Retrieved from http://www.donahue.umassp.edu/our-publications/the-face-of-the-human-services-sector.

Citino, C., Santaniello, S., Goodman, M., Weekes, M., & Yelanak, B. (2017). Who will care? The workforce crisis in Massachusetts. Boston: Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers, Inc., Retrieved February 11, 2019 from http://publicpolicycenter.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Who-Will-Care-The-Workforce-Crisis-in-Human-Services.pdf.

Clotfelter, C. T., Glennie, E., Ladd, H. F., & Vigdor, J. L. (2008). Would higher salaries keep teachers in high-poverty schools? Evidence from a policy intervention in North Carolina. Journal of Public Economics, 92(5–6), 1352–1370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2007.07.003.CrossRef

Coffman, J., Bates, T., Geyn, I., & Spetz, J. (2018). California’s current and future behavioral health workforce, Healthforce Center at UCSF. Retrieved March 4, 2019 from https://healthforce.ucsf.edu/sites/healthforce.ucsf.edu/files/publication-pdf/California%E2%80%99s%20Current%20and%20Future%20Behavioral%20Health%20Workforce.pdf.

Colton, C. W., & Manderscheid, R. W. (2006). Congruencies in increased mortality rates, years of potential life lost, and causes of death among public mental health clients in eight states. Preventing Chronic Disease, 3(2), A42.PubMedPubMedCentral

Cunningham, P. J. (2009). Beyond parity: Primary care physicians’ perspectives on access to mental health care. Health Affairs, 28(3), w490–w501. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.w490.CrossRefPubMed

Duffy, F. F., West, J. C., Wilk, J., Narrow, W. E., Hales, D., Thompson, J., et al. (2002). Mental health practitioners and trainees. In R. W. Manderscheid & M. J. Henderson (Eds.), Mental health, United States 2002 (pp. 327–368). Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Dupéré, V., Dion, E., Nault-Brière, F., Archambault, I., Leventhal, T., & Lesage, A. (2018). Revisiting the link between depression symptoms and high school dropout: Timing of exposure matters. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(2), 205–211.CrossRef

Feng, L., & Sass, T. R. (2018). The impact of incentives to recruit and retain teachers in “Hard-to-Staff” Subjects. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 37(1), 112–135.CrossRef

Gattman, N. E., McCarty, R. L., Balassa, A., & Skillman, S. M. (2017). Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment. Olympia, WA: Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Retrieved March 4, 2019 from http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Documents/WABehavioralHealthWorkforceAssessment-2016-17.pdf.

Gattman, N., Reule, R., Balassa, A., Skillman, S. M., McCarty, R. L., & Schwartz, M. (2016). Washington’s Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment: Project Phase I. Olympia, WA: Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Retrieved March 4, 2019 from http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Documents/FINAL-BHWorkforceAssessment-PhaseIReport.pdf.

Glazerman, S., & Seifullah, A. (2012). An evaluation of the Chicago Teacher Advancement Program (Chicago TAP) after four years. Final Report (Mathematica Reference No. 06736–520). Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED530098.pdf.

Hanushek, E. A., Kain, J. F., & Rivkin, S. G. (2004). Why public schools lose teachers. Journal of Human Resources, XXXIX, 2, 326–354. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.XXXIX.2.326.CrossRef

Hoge, M. A., Karel, M. J., Zeiss, A. M., Alegria, M., & Moye, J. (2015). Strengthening psychology’s workforce for older adults: Implications of the Institute of Medicine’s report to Congress. The American Psychologist, 70(3), 265–278.CrossRef

Hoge, M. A., Morris, J. A., Daniels, A. S., Stuart, G. W., Huey, L. Y., & Adams, N. (2007). An action plan for behavioral health workforce development:A framework for discussion. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Hoge, M. A., Morris, J. A., Stuart, G. W., Huey, L. Y., Bergeson, S., Flaherty, M. T., et al. (2009). A national action plan for workforce development in behavioral health. Psychiatric Services, 60(7), 883–887. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2009.60.7.883.CrossRefPubMed

Hoge, M. A., Stuart, G. W., Morris, J., Flaherty, M. T., Paris, M., Jr., & Goplerud, E. (2013). Mental health and addiction workforce development: Federal leadership is needed to address the growing crisis. Health Affairs, 32, 2005–2012.CrossRef

Hoge, M. A., Stuart, G. W., Morris, J. A., Huey, L. Y., Flaherty, M. T., & Paris, M. (2017). Behavioral health workforce development in the United States. In M. Smith, A. Jury, & IGI Global (Eds.), Workforce development theory and practice in the mental health sector (pp. 433–455). Hershey: IGI Global Publications.

Hoge, M. A., Wolf, J., Migdole, S., Cannata, E., & Gregory, F. X. (2016). Workforce development and mental health transformation: A state perspective. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(3), 323–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9953-6.CrossRefPubMed

Insel, T. R. (2008). Assessing the economic costs of serious mental illness. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(6), 663–665.CrossRef

Johnson, S. M., Berg, J. H., & Donaldson, M. L. (2005). Who stays in teaching and why: A review of the literature on teacher retention. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Graduate School of Education: The Project on the Next Generation of Teachers. Retrieved March 12, 2019 from https://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/NRTA/Harvard_report.pdf.

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2015). Analysis of data from Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2015). Retrieved March 12, 2019 from https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/know-burden-disease-u-s/.

Long, S.K., & Aarons J. (2018). Access to care for mental health and substance use disorders is a challenge for many in Massachusetts. Analysis of the Massachusetts Health Reform Survey, Urban Institute and Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. Retrieved March 12, 2019 from https://bluecrossmafoundation.org/sites/default/files/MHRS_2018_MH%20SUD%20Summary_final.pdf.

National Health Service Corps. (2012). NHSC clinician retention: A story of dedication and commitment. Washington (DC): Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved May 28, 2019 from https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/current members/member sites/retain providers/retentionbrief.pdf.

North Carolina Commission for Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. (2008). The Joint Workforce Development Initiative report. Retrieved April 29, 2019 from https://www.ncleg.gov/documentsites/committees/JLOCMH-DD-SAS/LOC%20Minutes%20and%20Handouts/Minutes%20for%202008/April%2017,%202008/Workforce%20Development%20Plan-%20-S.%20Hairston%20-%20Attach.%20No.%204d.pdf.

Oregon Health Policy Board, Health Care Workforce Committee. (2016). Overview and recommendations for improving Oregon’s provider incentive programs: Report and recommendations for the Oregon Health Policy Board. Retrieved April 29, 2019 from https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/HP-HCW/Documents/Full%20OHPB%20File%20for%203396%20-%20PPT-Memo-Rept-App.pdf.

Park-Lee, E., Lipari, R. N., Hedden, S. L., Copello, E. A. P., & Kroutil, L. A. (2016, September). Receipt of services for substance use and mental health issues among adults: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH Data Review. Retrieved 28 April, 2019 from https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.samhsa.gov_data_&d=DwIFAw&c=vh6FgFnduejNhPPD0fl_yRaSfZy8CWbWnIf4XJhSqx8&r=cijxKIUfIjh6xB35XSxKelnSNfz2185wGO_qFr-DFH8&m=muNIKGRFnXT5kmDMemfcLKgsrPyo8KE_CYSGdGvXM14&s=lfcVUz0mRE6a6dNxBi35QpswHR8tL9GtwJUpm4yecZ0&e=.

Parks, J., Svendsen, D., Singer, P., & Foti, M. E., (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Retrieved April 8, 2019 from https://www.nasmhpd.org/sites/default/files/Mortality%20and%20Morbidity%20Final%20Report%208.18.08.pdf.

Podolsky, A., & Kini, T. (2016). How effective are loan forgiveness and service scholarships for recruiting teachers?. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.

U.S. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2015). Behavioral Health trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication no. SMA 1504927, NSDUH Series H-50). Retrieved March 19, 2017 from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/.

Springer, M. G., Swain, W. A., & Rodriguez, L. A. (2016). Effective teacher retention bonuses: evidence from Tennessee. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 38(2), 199–221. https://doi.org/10.3102/016237371560968.CrossRef

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use among Adults. HHS Publication No. SMA-15-4906. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved March 27, 2019 from https://www.integration.samhsa.gov/MHServicesUseAmongAdults.pdf.

U.S. Department of Education. (2014). 35th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2013. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved February 12, 2018 from https://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2013/parts-b-c/35th-idea-arc.pdf.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. (2016). National projections of supply and demand for selected behavioral health practitioners: 2013–2025. Rockville, MD: author. Retrieved February 28, 2018 from https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bhw/health-workforce-analysis/research/projections/behavioral-health2013-2025.pdf.

USDHHS. (2001). Mental health: culture, race, and ethnicity: A supplement to mental health—A report of the surgeon general. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vermont Department of Mental Health. (2017). Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorder Workforce Report to Vermont Legislature. Retrieved March 6, 2019 from https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Legislative-Reports/Act-82-Sec.9-Workforce-Report.pdf.

Title: Developing the Behavioral Health Workforce: Lessons from the States
Author: Nicholas A. Covino
Publication date: 01-11-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Care
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00963-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Developing the Behavioral Health Workforce: Lessons from the States

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 6/2019

Autism Prevalence in the Medicaid Program and Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Adult Enrollees Diagnosed with Autism

Practitioners' Use and Evaluation of Transdiagnostic Youth Psychotherapy Years After Training and Consultation Have Ended

Therapist Financial Strain and Turnover: Interactions with System-Level Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices

Interactions Between Clinician and Organizational Characteristics to Predict Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic Therapy Use

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Recovery Educational Interventions for Mental Health Professionals

Mental Health Care Gap: The Case of the Slovak Republic