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Report Highlights Opportunities to Strengthen Behavioral Health Workforce
After conducting a survey of more than 1600 behavioral healthcare workers in the fall of 2021, as well as small group listening sessions with representatives of 30 peer-run organizations, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released a series of recommendations for supporting, strengthening, and expanding the field’s workforce.
The findings are included in the recently published California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment Report. The report has identified 7 recommendations for addressing current challenges facing behavioral healthcare organizations:
Support data-driven decision making and policy through the collection of nuanced workforce data. DHCS noted that California has implemented statewide assessments over the past decade and said this effort should be expanded by conducting the workforce assessment every 2 to 3 years to better understand trends in the field.
- Create, expand, and strengthen career pathways for diverse providers. While the assessment found “significant cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity overall,” White respondents were found to be more likely to have higher paying positions, while Black respondents were more likely to work in lower paying roles, such as peer or recovery support jobs.
- Increase pay and benefits and address disparities between peer and nonpeer staff. DHCS recommended increasing compensation for existing staff, raising salary caps in county and state contracts, and increasing reimbursements to allow for ongoing wage increases. The department also suggested using American Rescue Plan Act funds for both immediate and long-term workforce development.
- Address provider burnout and compassion fatigue. The use of flexible scheduling, mental health days, awareness campaigns for signs and symptoms, and self-care and wellness supports were among the tactics recommended by DHCS.
- Prioritize support for communities currently being inadequately served. DHCS supported investment in programs to support affordable housing and noted that “housing first” strategies should not impede individuals with behavioral health needs from accessing care.
- Provide additional training and technical assistance to expand telehealth. With nearly half (47.8%) of survey respondents currently using telehealth as a service delivery mechanism, DHCS said provider organizations should provide clear guidance on telehealth billing policies and how they may shift post-pandemic, create learning opportunities for counties and providers to learn about resource-effective ways others are engaging communities with limited access to telehealth, and educate providers and service recipients about how to use telehealth platforms.
- Invest in training initiatives that support the integration of peers and include and promote peer voice and leadership. Both survey respondents and participants in DHCS listening sessions identified a lack of awareness about the uniqueness and value of peer support. DHCS recommend increasing marketing and promotion of such services, promoting cross-training between peers, nonpeer clinicians and leadership, and nonpeer staff, and aligning training, professional development, and responsibilities with peer certification requirements.
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