Project Grant H79SM085791

STRENGTHENING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE - THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE CHILD FOCUS (CF) STRENGTHENING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE (SBHW) PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE SERVICE CAPACITY AND ACCESS TO CLINICAL TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST OHIO, A DESIGNATED BH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AREA, BY INCREASING THE QUALIFIED WORKFORCE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MINORITY POPULATIONS AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS IN OUR SERVICE AREA THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ACHIEVED DURING THE PANDEMIC. CF WILL CREATE A PIPELINE OF QUALIFIED PROVIDERS INCLUDING CASE MANAGERS, MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, THERAPISTS, NURSES AND PSYCHIATRISTS TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH SED/SMI/COD THROUGH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL BUILD OUR WORKFORCE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASE THE DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF THE WORKFORCE AND RESTORE AND EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED BH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AREAS WHERE IT IS HARD TO HIRE AND RETAIN CLINICIANS. SEVERAL BARRIERS TO AN ADEQUATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) WORKFORCE SUPPLY EXIST, INCLUDING AN AGING WORKFORCE, A LACK OF NEXT GENERATION EMPLOYEES INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-RELATED FIELDS AND THE DIFFICULTY IN RETAINING STAFF. THESE CHALLENGES ARE FURTHER COMPLICATED BY A NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE MIX OF PROFESSIONALS IS APPROPRIATE TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE OUTCOMES. CHILD FOCUS PROPOSES TO SERVE 800 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS OVER TWO YEARS WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS AND CHILDREN/YOUTH WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, SERVING 400 IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 400 IN THE SECOND YEAR IN HAMILTON (URBAN), CLERMONT (SUBURBAN) AND BROWN (RURAL) COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST OHIO. CF IS WELL-POSITIONED AS A REPUTABLE PROVIDER AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, COLLABORATIONS AND FACILITIES TO SERVE AS THE HUB FOR CLINICAL SERVICES AND COORDINATION OF CARE. WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SBHW, CF HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO 1) REPLENISH DESIGNATED BH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AREAS, 2) RESTORE AND REALIGN STAFF TO MEET THE GROWING NEED AS THE SURGE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES CONTINUES POST-PANDEMIC AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES BY ENHANCING STAFF HIRING, TRAINING, WELLNESS AND RETENTION, AND EXPANDING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE, TELEHEALTH AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE POPULATION HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES INCLUDE REDUCING CLIENT HOSPITALIZATIONS/ER VISITS AND CLIENT PROBLEM SEVERITY, INCREASING ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED, CLIENT-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENT BH SERVICES, IMPROVING CLIENT FUNCTIONING AND INCREASING THE RETENTION, TRAINING, SELF-CARE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF THE BH WORKFORCE.