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Workforce Resources
A variety of state, national, and international initiatives are
relevant to workforce issues in Texas. Most initiatives focus on
training, recruitment, and retention, especially in rural parts
of the state.
A wealth of
resources has been identified in the following areas:
• General
• Professional Training
• Recruitment and Retention
• Rural Accessibility
• Data and Statistics
• National Data
• State-Specific Data
General
Resources
available in the general category include organizations that are
addressing solutions to mental health workforce issues at varying
levels. These resources highlight the importance of mental health
workforce issues, provide information to improve the workforce,
and submit recommendations for improving the accessibility and quality
of the mental health workforce.
Some
of these general resources involve the workforce in general, including
health care workforce issues that are applicable to the mental health
workforce as well. Others focus on the children's mental health
workforce.
The
National Institute for Mental Health of England
The National Institute for Mental Health of England's (NIMHE) Department
of Health has released a report on the NIMHE National Workforce
Planning Pilot Program. The report gives background information
on the project and the process of workforce planning. It also provides
examples of best practices, and outlines the outcomes and lessons
learned from the program.
Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) assists
states in improving systems of care for mental health consumers
and their families, and advances the preparation of a qualified
mental health workforce in the West through collaborations with
states, research and evaluation, policy analysis, program development,
technical assistance, and information sharing. The Commission has
a center specifically for rural mental health research, and links
related to mental health professional workforce development.
The
Regional Center for Health Workforce Studies at the Center for Health
Economics and Policy
The Regional Center for Health Workforce Studies at the Center for Health Economics and Policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is involved in many projects related to the health care workforce that are applicable to the mental health work force. The Center's website provides related reports and information on collaborative projects. Of particular interest is a report entitled "Aging Health Care Workforce Issues". The report addresses the challenges that are created by the aging population. It highlights related issues, such as the fact that health expenditures are expected to double and that the elderly minority population is expected to increase fourfold in the next 50 years. The report emphasizes the importance of thinking more globally about these issues and presents some solutions as well.
National
Health Policy Forum (PDF)
The National Health Policy Forum (NHPF) at the George Washington University has issued a brief on workforce capacity and effective treatment in children's mental health, entitled "The Provider System for Children's Mental Health: Workforce Capacity and Effective Treatment". The brief advocates for addressing children's unmet needs for mental health care by focusing on adequate provider supply and effective care. It describes the shortage of qualified providers and reasons for the shortage, discusses the role of managed care in driving practice patterns, and clarifies decisions related to which providers are most qualified to deliver what care. In addition, the brief discusses evidence-based care in children's mental health, including the extent to which it is being taught and practiced, the extent to which health plans are adopting such practices, and the effect such strategies may have on the makeup of the children's mental health provider field.
National
Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health (PDF)
The National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health,
part of the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development,
provides a brief on "Transforming the Workforce in Children's Mental
Health". The report cites information from the President's New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health and provides data related to the mental
health workforce. It highlights the importance of mental health
workforce issues to children's mental health as well as the complexities
of preparation and training for those working in children's mental
health. The brief also provides recommendations for change.
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Professional Training
Quality
in the mental health workforce can be increased with appropriate
training in evidence-based practices and cultural competence. The
following resources cover organizations that are focused on improving
education and training in the mental health workforce, both at higher
education and continuing education levels. Some resources provide
general training and strategic planning information, while others
provide specific materials and curriculums.
Annapolis
Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce
The Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce strives to build a national consensus on the nature of the workforce crisis and to promote improvements in the quality and relevance of education and training by identifying and implementing change strategies. The site provides information on special issues for training, such as best practices, rural workforce issues, and cultural competence, among many other topics. The site also provides links to a national strategic plan on behavioral health workforce development, and reports and recommendations from the 2004 conference on competencies.
CalSWEC
Mental Health Initiative
The CalSWEC Mental Health Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Social Welfare has developed a set of mental health competencies for educational and agency settings to prepare the future MSW-level workforce. The primary mission of the initiative is the development of a professionally trained, culturally competent social work workforce that will meet the needs of the public mental health system in California. The site describes the development of the mental health curriculum competencies and outlines the schedule through which the competencies will be delivered to students. The site also provides a matrix that schools and mental health agencies may use to identify the ways in which students will learn about and demonstrate skills in the competency areas.
World
Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) strives to help develop strategies for improving mental health. Of particular relevance is the Policy and Service section where WHO provides a Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package entitled, "Human Resources and Training in Mental Health". The guidance package was created to assist policy makers and planners in the development of strategies of improving mental health, use of existing resources, provision of effective services, and the reintegration of people with mental disorder into all aspects of community life. The package provides modules that address the needs and priorities in policy development and service planning.
California
Association of Social Rehabilitation
The California Association of Social Rehabilitation has developed
a curriculum for psychosocial rehabilitation practitioners that
can be taught in schools or used for job training. The curriculum
is designed to assist direct service practitioners in preparing
for the exam for the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioners.
The site contains links to the Dacum (a job analysis) and the outline
of the curriculum.
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Recruitment and Retention
With a workforce nearing retirement age, high turnover rates, and fewer workers choosing the mental health profession, many organizations are focusing on recruiting new professionals to the field and retaining those professionals who have already chosen the mental health field. The following resources provide information on increasing the number of mental health professionals through recruitment and retention.
Greater
Bay Area Mental Health Education Workforce Collaborative
The Greater Bay Area Mental Health Education Workforce Collaborative has built on the work of the California Mental Health Planning Council and has implemented several initiatives to increase the mental health workforce. The collaboration consists of mental health providers, educators, consumers and family members, government organizations, and foundations.
California
Mental Health Planning Council
The California Mental Health Planning Council has worked to identify the scope of workforce issues and strategies to increase the number and diversity of the mental health workforce at all levels. Resources include a guide for high schools, a report on employment, recommendations, resource materials on expanding the use of psychiatric nurses, a report on shortage areas, and a report on postsecondary education.
Johnson
& Johnson's Bridge to Employment
Johnson & Johnson's Bridge to Employment initiative seeks to improve educational experiences by providing career development and work-based learning opportunities. The link below is to a new publication that describes program's successes and outcomes, such as improved rates of enrolling in higher education among participating students and increased academic success and engagement. The report also provides seven key elements of a successful school-to-career partnership and offers recommendations for schools, businesses, and funding agencies wishing to undertake similar efforts.
Mental
Health Planning Council
The California Mental Health Planning Council publishes reports related to mental health, aiming to identify the scope of workforce issues and strategies to increase the number and diversity of the mental health workforce at all levels. Resources include a guide for high schools, a report on employment, recommendations, resource materials on expanding the use of psychiatric nurses, a report on shortage areas, and a report on postsecondary education.
Area
Health Education Centers Program
The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program (AHEC) strives to meet the state's health and health workforce needs by providing education programs in partnership with academic institutions, healthcare agencies, and other organizations. Goals include improving the distribution and retention of healthcare providers and improving the diversity and cultural competence of the health care workforce. The site provides publications including manuals, reports, newsletters, and briefs. Some information pertains directly to the mental health workforce.
Sullivan
Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce
The Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce is administered by the Duke University School of Medicine as part of a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The panel was formed in 2003 to address the under-representation of minorities in health-related fields. The commission recently released its report entitled, "Missing Persons: minorities in the Health Professions." The report calls for a variety of systemic changes to make health education and training more attainable for minority students, including shifting from student loans to scholarships, reducing dependency on standardized tests for admission, and expanding the role of two-year colleges. Though the report is focused on the health care workforce, its recommendations apply to the mental health workforce as well. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation website contains links to the webcast of the press briefing as well as the full report.
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Rural Accessibility
In rural areas, access to mental health services can be difficult if not impossible to attain. Rural areas tend to have few professionals to meet the mental health needs of those living in rural communities, and some areas have none at all. This creates an even greater need for recruitment and retention, utilizing strategies that are specific to rural areas. The following resources address these issues and provide data and strategies for improving access to mental health services in rural areas.
Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, University of Alaska, and the State of Alaska, Department of Health and Human Services joined to host a two-day summit to develop a strategic plan for addressing the supply of behavioral health workers in Alaska. The University of Alaska's website provides links to various health reports, including Alaska's Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative and Report. The report includes the national context of rural behavioral health shortages, Alaska workforce data, occupational and population projections in Alaska, trends in University of Alaska behavioral health programs regarding enrollment and degrees awarded, and recommendations for developing the behavioral health workforce.
Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) assists states in improving systems of care for mental health consumers and their families, and advances the preparation of a qualified mental health workforce in the West through collaborations with states, research and evaluation, policy analysis, program development, technical assistance, and information sharing. The Commission has a center specifically for rural mental health research, and links related to mental health professional workforce development.
Maine
Rural Health Research Center
The Maine Rural Health Research Center's Mental Health program conducts
research and evaluation of mental health policies and services that
help persons with mental illness get the care and support they need
to recover and live full and productive lives. The Center released
a paper, "Addressing Mental Health Workforce Needs in Underserved
Rural Areas: Accomplishments and Challenges", available from their
website. The report reviews the significance of mental health workforce
issues and the limitations of current approaches to estimating workforce
adequacy. The report provides information specific to rural mental
health, as well as federal efforts to address workforce needs.
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Data and Statistics
The following resources provide national and state-specific data on mental health workforce personnel. The data include numbers and percentages of professionals in different types of mental health jobs, as well as current and future demand information.
National
Data
Center
for Health Workforce Studies
The Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany is a not-for-profit research organization that conducts studies, analyzes data, and informs policies on the health workforce. Their website provides a section for recent workforce research in the areas of the physician, nursing, health, and other health professions workforce. The Center also completed a study on licensed social workers that resulted in several reports related to the social work workforce.
Health
Resources and Services Administration
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Professions completed a National Center for Health Workforce Analysis: U.S. Health Workforce Personnel Factbook. The Factbook is a compilation of data from professional associations and government agencies on the U.S. health workforce personnel. It contains a section on public health that provides some information on mental health personnel. Particularly, Table 701 displays the estimated number of clinical active or clinically trained mental health personnel and practitioner-to-population ratios by discipline and geographic area. This table includes data on the number and rate of psychiatrists (1998), psychologists (1999), social workers (1998), and psychiatric nurses (1995) by each State, other geographically-defined areas (such as New England), and the United States. The data was gathered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
National
Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) Center for Workforce Studies released the report, "Licensed Social Workers in the U.S., 2004". The report is the result of a partnership between NASW and the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany. The report documents a benchmark national study of licensed social workers. The site includes other links to reports related to this project as well.
Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has released a report containing projections of high school graduates by State, Income, and Race/Ethnicity, entitled, "Knocking at the College Door". The report provides updated projections of high school graduates for each year and each state through 2018.
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State-Specific
Data
Alaska:
Mental Health Trust Authority
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, University of Alaska, and the State of Alaska, Department of Health and Human Services joined to host a two-day summit to develop a strategic plan for addressing the supply of behavioral health workers in Alaska. The University of Alaska's website provides links to various health reports, including Alaska's Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative and Report. The report includes the national context of rural behavioral health shortages, Alaska workforce data, occupational and population projections in Alaska, trends in University of Alaska behavioral health programs regarding enrollment and degrees awarded, and recommendations for developing the behavioral health workforce.
California:
Center for the Health Professions
The Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco has published "The Mental Health Workforce: Who's Meeting California's Needs?". The report profiles the major mental health professions in California using occupational profiles and estimates of the current workforce, as well as a demand forecast of the workforce need through 2010, a profile of the field in California, and recommendations for the future.
Georgia:
Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council
Georgia's Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council (Department of Human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Disease) has contracted with APS Healthcare to conduct a mental health gap analysis. The purpose of the analysis is to identify information that can be used to shape the public delivery system to best meet the needs of Georgians that rely upon state-supported mental health services to live in the community. The report provides an assessment of the state's publicly funded mental health system, the system of care supporting adults with serious mental illness and children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders.
Nebraska:
Health Professions Tracking Center
The Health Professions Tracking Center at the University of Nebraska's Medical Center has developed a comprehensive database that tracks health care professionals in Nebraska. The information includes where the professionals live and work, what they specialize in, where they went to school, and what languages they speak. The centralized repository benefits researchers, educators, policymakers, healthcare providers, and residents. The database does not contain information on mental health professionals, but its structure can be used as a guide for those designing initiatives for the collection of data on mental health professionals.
North
Dakota: Rural Health Workforce, Health Professions Tracking Program
The Health Profession Tracking Program (HPTP) at the Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences developed a survey modeled after the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Health Profession Tracking Center. The HPTP is a statewide healthcare provider tracking system with the ability to create and maintain a comprehensive inventory of North Dakota's critical healthcare resources. Data are analyzed annually to monitor workforce trends in North Dakota. Publications are available on primary care providers as well as students and physicians.
Texas:
Health Professions Resource Center
The Health Professions Resource Center (HPRC) at the Center for
Health Statistics within the Department of Health and Human Services
has prepared a series of reports, called the "Highlights" series,
on the health professions in Texas. The two reports in the series
that are currently posted on the HPRC website are "The Supply of
Mental Health Professionals in Texas" and "The Supply of Pharmacists
in Texas". The report on the supply of mental health professionals
in Texas includes data broken down by type of professional. Findings
include:
• Texas has a shortage of many types of health
care providers.
• This shortage is expected to continue and likely to worsen.
• The shortages are most acute in the rural and border areas.
• Many Texas counties have no providers of particular types;
24 have none.
The site also contains other workforce-related reports and publications.
Vermont:
Department of Health, Agency of Human Services
The Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services, publishes Performance Indicator Project Reports. These brief reports are available on a weekly basis, and provide information about aspects of the behavioral healthcare system, including access to care, practice patterns, treatment outcomes, concerns of criminal justice involvement, employment, and hospitalization. Reports are available that cite issues related to mental health staff tenure and turnover for fiscal year 2005. Contact information for the measure used to gather the workforce data is also provided.
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