Massachusetts has taken a distinct approach by housing its Behavioral Health Workforce Center within the Health Policy Commission (HPC), an independent agency authorized by the legislature and established in collaboration with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to work on improving the affordability of health care for all state residents. Colorado enacted SB 292 in 2025 to launch a new child-focused Workforce Capacity Center managed by the Behavioral Health Administration and housed within the community college system, establishing a pipeline strategy grounded in academic access. For example, Nevada’s AB 37 authorized the creation of a statewide BHWC within the Nevada System of Higher Education, directing it to coordinate pathway development, reduce licensure delays, and map workforce needs in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services and other state agencies. As of 2025, at least 11 states have established such centers through legislation or as part of broader state workforce strategies. Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) creates powerful solutions to improve health and human services systems. California Workforce Road MapAHP designed a statewide strategy grounded in job-driven training, infrastructure analysis, and collaboration across educational institutions.
Employers rely on referrals from existing clients, staff, and community members with lived experience. Namely, insurance coverage of these services has lagged behind need. Value-based payment arrangements, increasing uptake of existing billing codes for Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), and financial incentives for adopting team-based care can drive improvements. Ensuring that technology is integrated with clinical supervision is essential to maintaining patient care as the primary focus while safeguarding safety and quality. Roundtable participants also stressed that the use of technology in clinical care must complement, not replace, clinician oversight. These tools enable the workforce to operate more efficiently by streamlining tasks and optimizing resource allocation.
Rather than existing in isolation, behavioral health professionals thrive when they engage in synergistic relationships with other stakeholders. By investing in training, mentorship, self-care, and recognition, organizations can build a resilient workforce that thrives in the face of challenges. For instance, workshops on trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and crisis intervention can empower professionals to provide high-quality services. By implementing evidence-based strategies and fostering a supportive environment, professionals can continue providing high-quality care while safeguarding their own well-being.
Promoting Workforce Resilience in Behavioral Health Settings
States such as Arizona, New Jersey, and Washington have made direct investments in grant and scholarship awards for individuals pursuing behavioral health degrees to attract and retain a range of behavioral health professionals. In addition, the state is re-releasing over $21 million in remaining funds from previous MA Repay initiatives, which target child/adolescent psychiatrists, primary care professionals, and substance use treatment providers. Use the NASHP state strategy resource to explore the approaches of three states that are leveraging managed care payment models that incentivize improvements in behavioral health performance. The initiative is designed to enhance workforce sustainability, expand access to care, and improve service quality across the state, particularly in rural areas where shortages are more pronounced. Washington’s approach emphasizes that the increased payments are directed at community-based providers, excluding hospital inpatient services, and requires MCOs to pass these increases directly to the providers. Starting in January 2024, Washington requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to increase rates by 15 percent for these services, including specialized programs like WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services), New Journeys, and opioid treatment programs.
Comprehensive School Mental Health
During the pandemic, telehealth provided continuous access to behavioral health care and has become a standard component of care. There was consensus that telehealth, teleconsultation, and other digital workforce extenders are valuable tools for increasing the capacity of the current behavioral health workforce. While strategies to retain the current workforce and cultivate future talent are critical, state policymakers recognize that increasing the number of clinicians, while vital, is part of a multipronged approach to meet the growing mental health and substance use treatment needs of most – especially underserved and at-risk populations. Providing behavioral health services reimbursed by Medicaid. Medicaid-receiving agencies and tribal health centers focused on services to underserved communities, based in Washington state.
National Council members receive 30% off licensure exam prep resources and job board services! For additional details or questions about their accredited degree programs leading to an MA in Counseling, please contact LeAnn Brown. In a major effort to expand health equity across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Health Care and Human Services Reform Act into law in How Right Now: Mental Health Resources 2021. The resolution declaring a workforce emergency was unanimously adopted by House lawmakers. The Behavioral Health Workforce Center and consortium of higher education partners will be innovative, collaborative, and sustainable. Scholars and prospective scholars—please direct all questions and concerns to
- A community center might work with a university to create a specialized curriculum that addresses the specific mental health needs of its population.
- “Addressing workforce shortages and needs in the state is a key goal of the state’s strategic plan for higher education, and we are excited to work collaboratively with our agency and university partners to ensure we are meeting workforce needs in behavioral health in benefit of the people of Illinois.”
- This cooperation increases outreach efforts to attract a diverse range of candidates ready to face challenges in behavioral health.
- During the roundtable, Utah’s approach to addressing workforce development gaps was highlighted.
Many state BHWCs, such as those in Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington, are funded through state general funds to support behavioral health workforce development. The Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance (BHWCA) is a national network of behavioral health workforce development centers from across the United States. Though they offer a high return on investment in behavioral health services, peer support workers are often stuck in low-wage roles with limited opportunity for career progression. Against this backdrop, the Massachusetts Healthcare Collaborative sought to identify and address challenges in the state’s healthcare workforce pipeline, starting with peer support workers.