Dear Friends and Colleagues:

The Milbank Memorial Fund just published a critical new report, Health Worker Shortages and Global Justice, which points to a shortage of about four million health workers needed to deliver essential health services. The World Health Organization asserts that health workforce shortages have replaced system financing as "the most serious obstacle" to realizing the right to health within countries. The Milbank report reminded me, once again, that behavioral health is not alone in the workforce challenges we have long grappled with.

Long-committed to ensuring a robust, qualified workforce that meets the needs of those we serve, the National Council recognizes that workforce development is of great importance now more than ever. With an impending influx of patients on account of healthcare reform and parity, we must be prepared to better leverage our human resources and build staff competencies and skills.

To ‘name the problem,’ the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS), run by the National Council, has created Guiding Principles and Recommendations for Workforce Development, which outlines areas that will help prepare our field for the future. The National Council’s workforce development initiatives support the goals outlined by this paper. Our initiatives are modest, dwarfed by the size and scope of the need, but offer practical assistance intended to augment your local efforts. Please review the programs described below.

• The Middle Management Academy can help staff entering management roles develop the skills necessary to become solid industry leaders. The Academy provides managers with a comprehensive assessment of personal leadership skills and immersion training on core management competencies. More than 1,500 behavioral health professionals have benefited from this program and are better prepared to exert a positive influence on their organization’s management and direction.

• Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program addresses the lack of a multi-ethnic representation in behavioral health organizations’ leadership. Building upon the Middle Management Academy’s successful immersion training, this program engages talented, up-and-coming behavioral health leaders by investing in middle managers who represent communities of color and/or work directly with culturally diverse populations. The program provides leadership and management education, career coaching, national networking opportunities, and an opportunity for involvement in national and state policymaking.

• Psychiatric Leadership Program was developed with the understanding that psychiatrists can leverage medical expertise to serve as leaders within and across community organizations. Now in its fourth year, the program taps the talents and experience of nationally recognized leaders to run yearlong learning communities using a curriculum that develops and enhances effectiveness of psychiatrists in public sector policy and service settings. The program enhances leadership and professional development through mentoring, expert consultation support to implement quality improvement projects, and exposure to leading public policy experts.

• Trauma-Informed Care is a National Council priority and we are committed to helping behavioral health organizations create and sustain trauma-informed systems of care and best practices through various initiatives, including the National Council Learning Community for Adoption of Trauma-Informed Practices. We also focused the most recent National Council Magazine exclusively on trauma-informed care, highlighting research, efforts in the field, best practices, and peer perspectives.

• Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate helps our members learn how to better care for veterans returning home to communities without traditional VA services and supports. A collaboration of the National Council, Department of Defense’s Center for Deployment Psychology, and Essential Learning, the program uses 14 self-directed, self-paced online courses to teach providers about military culture and specific issues affecting veterans and their families.

• E-Learning is a convenient, cost-effective continuing education, career development, and staff training option. Through an exclusive partnership with Essential Learning, the National Council offers e-learning options customized to your agency and staff needs.

• The National Council & University of Southern California Partnership is for those contemplating a social work career. Through a partnership with the USC School of Social Work — a prestigious, Top 10 social work school — individuals can earn an accredited MSW degree on the web, with classes held virtually and traditional field placements available in local agencies such as yours. A telehealth component for field education will also be provided soon. 

• Mental Health First Aid puts important skills directly into the hands of the public — police, clergy, teachers, family, friends, and neighbors — enabling them to identify and help when someone is experiencing emotional stress. While your staff may be armed with excellent clinical, counseling, and even administrative skills, Mental Health First Aid helps them engage and educate your  community.  Mental Health First Aid is also used by behavioral health organizations as an orientation program for new, non-clinical staff.

• The National Council Conference has a long tradition of providing an invaluable workforce and leadership development curriculum, as well as opportunities for behavioral health leaders and staff to engage with one another to learn practical solutions for implementation at home. We hope you’ll join us for the 2012 National Council Conference in Chicago, April 15-17.

As I share opportunities available through the National Council, I urge you to take advantage of the National Health Service Corps, an invaluable resource for attracting and retaining employees. CIHS’ new Understanding the National Health Service Corps can help you navigate NHSC participation, and the document’s timing couldn’t be better: fueled by greater allocation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, HHS announced earlier this month that the program tripled in size in 2011.

The National Council continues to develop resources to help strengthen the workforce. Regularly visit www.thenationalcouncil.org to access the latest reports, guides, webinar archives, and more. And share with us the strategies you’re employing to address workforce shortages and turnover. As always, I encourage you to reach out to me directly at LindaR@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.7457.
   
Best Regards,

Linda Rosenberg, MSW
President and CEO
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare