The behavioral health workforce needs more accessible and adequate data to inform valid workforce projections and address shortages. While a minimum data set (MDS) exists for the standardized collection of data at the individual level, data obtained at the organizational level is also important. This report discusses the process of using literature and key informant…
Social workers are flexible employees with a wide variety of skills that can be adapted to fit complex and highly integrated healthcare settings. Many integrated health teams have benefited from the involvement of social workers, but little research has been conducted that examines the roles that social workers perform in these settings. This report describes…
The use of telehealth has expanded considerably in the 21st century as new technologies have expanded the ways in which patients are able to receive care from their providers. Behavioral health has been no exception to this trend, yet state regulations and scopes of practice to regulate behavioral telehealth are often insufficient and lack uniformity….
Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are a key component of behavioral health, but little is known about their job functions, practice settings, or demographic characteristics on a broad scale. This brief describes a pilot study that was conducted to test the effectiveness of a minimum data set (MDS) designed to collect MFT workforce data.ArrayBrief Arrayhttps://www.healthworkforceta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BHWRC_Characterization-of-Marriage-and-Family-Therapists_Policy-Brief-1.pdfDecember…
Social workers comprise the largest segment of the behavioral health workforce. As demand for behavioral health services continues to increase, more information about social workers and the development of better data collection methods will be needed. This brief describes a study that utilized a minimum data set (MDS) designed to collect data on social workers…
The supply of behavioral health providers has struggled in recent years to keep up with increased access to and demand for services. A Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a potential data collection solution for improved workforce planning needed to address the shortage. However, more information is needed about the efficacy and feasibility of using MDS…
Many Americans do not have access to adequate care for mental health and substance use conditions due to living in mental health professional shortage areas, cost of care, or other factors. Telehealth is seen as a promising strategy for reducing costs and increasing access to care for patients. This report describes a study that utilized…
Many Nebraskans suffer from behavior health issues, but many in rural areas are not able to get the care they need due to socio-economic status, stigma, and the lack of qualified providers in areas that are geographically isolated. This report describes a study that examined behavioral health workforce data and conducted interviews with providers and…
There is broad consensus that the ubiquity of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States constitutes an epidemic. Medication assisted treatment (MAT), which utilizes medications alongside psychosocial treatments and services has been shown to be highly effective for treating OUD, but implementation is low. This report describes a study that utilized geospatial analysis to…
Providing behavioral health to inmates with mental health and substance abuse disorders in correctional facilities is important for helping to maintain a safe prison environment and reducing rates of recidivism once those inmates transition out of the prison system. However, due to behavioral health workforce shortages and other factors, most prisoners do not receive adequate…
