Workforce Solutions Jam: Reducing Barriers to Licensure to Expand and Diversify the Behavioral Health Workforce

Creating a More Inclusive and Effective Workforce

As the demand for mental health and substance use treatment continues to grow, we need a workforce that reflects the populations it serves. Barriers to obtaining licensure remain a pressing challenge for many entering the field: 57% of people who earn master’s degrees in mental health disciplines don’t obtain clinical licensure because of financial, time and regulatory constraints.

This session will explore creative solutions, with insight into the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact and a spotlight on the work of the National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative (NMHWAC), which aims to increase the number of qualified licensed mental health and substance use treatment clinicians while increasing diversity in client-facing positions.

Key highlights of the December jam will include:

• Understanding barriers to obtaining licensure in mental health disciplines.
• Gaining insight into the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, including recent updates.
• Exploring actionable models and strategies to expand and diversify the behavioral health workforce.

The Workforce Solutions Jam is a monthly webinar to build national momentum and encourage collaboration through the Center for Workforce Solutions, hosted as a partnership between the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, The College for Behavioral Health Leadership and Health Management Associates.