Join Our Online Sessions: Discover Innovative Programs to Enhance Job Opportunities in Behavioral Healthcare!

San Diego County is taking steps to boost its behavioral health workforce with a series of virtual meetings starting Tuesday. The aim? To bring more behavioral health workers to the region and aid those in need of mental health support.

These sessions invite local organizations to explore contracting opportunities that can help enhance the workforce. Over the course of eight sessions, which run until Friday, participants will focus on several key roles and programs:

• Nurse Practitioners: Support for students gaining educational and clinical experience in public mental health settings.
• Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Network: Training paths for aspiring substance-use disorder counselors, case managers, and community health workers.
• Peer Support Specialists: Grants to assist with training, placement, and retention.
• Paid Internships: Opportunities for master’s level students in social work, counseling, and therapy within public behavioral health settings.

A recent workforce assessment highlighted the pressing need for more mental health professionals—an estimated 18,500 additional workers will be required by 2027 to meet the growing demand for services.

To address this issue, San Diego’s Policy & Innovation Center will manage the ELEVATE Behavioral Health Workforce Fund. This fund aims to support various educational and training programs, helping to ensure a steady influx of qualified personnel. Officials project that around 2,800 individuals could benefit from this initiative over the next five years, with potential funding available as early as this fall.

This move comes at a critical time. Mental health issues are rising, exacerbated by the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey noted that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. reported experiencing mental illness in 2021, making it clear that the demand for mental health care is at an all-time high.

Expanding the behavioral health workforce is essential not only for reducing wait times for treatment but also for building a supportive community around mental health. Programs like these might also spark social interest, as seen on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where discussions about mental health awareness and advocacy continue to gain traction.

With increased funding and resources, San Diego County hopes to create a system that helps individuals not just find jobs but also fosters long-term professional growth in the mental health field.

For more on these initiatives and to register for the sessions, visit the county’s official page on [behavioral health programs](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/bhs/connect/).

Check out this related article: Empowering Raleigh’s Faith Community: A Tour for Health Equity Awareness

Source link

apprenticeship,behavioral health,internship,mental health,nurse practitioners,substance abuse,virtual meeting