NASEM: Addressing Workforce Challenges Across the Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: A Workshop

This public workshop will address the workforce needs and challenges across the behavioral health continuum. The July 10 session will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET and the July 11 session will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET. This is a hybrid event; participants may attend virtually or in-person.

Invited presentations and discussions will be designed to:

• Examine the current funding streams and other strategies available for recruitment, training and retaining community health workers and other paraprofessionals in different settings (e.g., primary care, schools, social service agencies).
• Explore strategies to maximize licensing for expanding the paraprofessional workforce and discuss the opportunities and barriers to this approach, such as the role of state restrictions and reimbursement policies.
• Discuss ways to improve infrastructure and workforce development to support the implementation of effective interventions in settings outside of the clinic.
• Consider current community-based practices used throughout the care continuum and ways to prioritize interventions that reach more patients, and how best to determine cost-effectiveness.
• Discuss ways to promote the sustainable implementation of interventions in community-based organizations, with adaptions relevant to and effective in specific communities, and ways to de-implement ineffective interventions.
• Explore opportunities to foster collaborations and partnerships among policymakers, industry, care providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to maximize resources and impact.
• Explore strategies that promote health equity by increasing access to high-value care for all individuals in need.