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Advocate for policies and programs that strengthen the workforce.

The National Council advocates for policies and programs that strengthen the mental health and substance use workforce by improving reimbursement rates, supporting value-based contracting, removing barriers to employment and reimbursement, increasing workforce diversity, strengthening recruitment and retention and creating a pipeline for the future workforce.

HMA Policy Briefs

A series of three briefs that offer states and organizations immediate policy actions and solutions to address the workforce crisis facing our field. The first brief focuses on policy, financial strategies and regulatory waiver, the second on clinical transformation that is essential to addressing the workforce crisis and administrative burdens that exist within mental health and substance use treatment organizations. The third brief focuses on enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce.

View HMA Briefs

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC)

CCBHCs are clinics that receive flexible funding to expand the scope of mental health and substance use services in their community and serve anyone who walks through the door, regardless of their diagnosis or insurance status. CCBHCs are implementing innovative ways to address the workforce by increasing capacity of providers and enhancing delivery of care.

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Resources

State Strategies to Recruit and Retain the Behavioral Health Workforce (National Conference of State Legislatures) — Provides an overview of state strategies on recruitment and retention.
A Look at Strategies to Address Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs (KFF) — Provides an overview of how state Medicaid Programs are working to improve the workforce.
Filling the Gaps in the Behavioral Health Workforce (Bipartisan Policy Center) — A guide that provides policy recommendations that would strengthen the role of the nonclinical workforce to support licensed professionals.
Behavioral Health Workforce Projections, 2017-2030 (HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce) — This factsheet presents national-level supply and demand projections for select behavioral occupations from 2017 through 2030 using HRSA’s Health Workforce Simulation Model.
Addressing Burnout in the Behavioral Health Workforce Through Organizational Strategies (SAMHSA) — This guide highlights organization-level interventions to prevent and reduce burnout among behavioral health workers.
Behavioral Health Workforce Report (SAMHSA) — This report provides information on the number of practitioners needed to meet the behavioral health needs of the American people, and offers a foundation for a mental health system model that will address these needs.

Funding Opportunities

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Training Grants – Grant funding to expand the mental health and substance use treatment workforce.

Legislative Priorities

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing supports the following pieces of legislation:

Improving Access to Mental Health Act (S. 838/H.R. 1638)
Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (S. 462/H.R. 4933)
Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services (PEERS) in Medicare Act of 2023 (S.3498/H.R. 2642)

Use our Federal Workforce Tracker for details and current status of all federal workforce-related legislation for the 118th Congress.

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Resources

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