County Leadership in Mental Health: How Counties Are Leading the Way to Address Workforce Challenges
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Blaire Bryant
Jonah Cunningham
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Behavioral health conditions affect millions of Americans. With demand for services increasing and a shortage of providers nationwide, it is critical to develop both interim and long-term solutions for enhancing the workforce to respond to the needs of local residents.
Counties across the nation are investing in programs and initiatives that both assist with and incentivize the recruitment, training and placement of behavioral health providers that will work within local and under resourced communities. Counties rely on intergovernmental partners to supplement these investments through the enhancement of existing programs and establishment of new programs that promote workforce recruitment and retention.
Featured Initiative
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
(2023-2024) Counties increasingly handle direct mental health services, acting as the safety net for vulnerable residents and operating crisis lines, hospitals and detention centers. NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing developed reports and united county leaders to address the mental health crisis through four key policy priorities.
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