Behavioral health workforce education and training program - there is a significant disparity between the demand for and availability of pediatric mental health services in maryland

Approximately 24% of children, ages 3-17 years in maryland experience at least one mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral challenge. However, more than half of children ages 3-17 with mental health concerns have difficulty accessing necessary mental health treatment, in part due to the significant lack of behavioral health providers. The current grant proposal, entitled "behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care CO-location and resource expansion support (bhipp cares)" aims to address maryland's significant behavioral health workforce shortage through increasing the number of master's level trainees who have access to high-quality internship programs in rural and underserved areas of maryland. Bhipp cares expands the existing bhipp CO-location internship program in pediatric primary care settings by offering additional intern positions, increasing the number and type of experiential training sites, partnering with an additional university to make intern positions available to counseling trainees at a historically black college and university, and reducing non-academic barriers to workforce development through the provision of a competitive stipend for masters-level students. Additional enhancements include improvements to the training program to increase cultural competency, continuing education and peer support for clinical supervisors to reduce burnout and support retention of the current behavioral health workforce, and provision of collaborative training in team-based models of integrated care for primary care providers and trainees at experiential training sites. Bhipp cares will address shortages in maryland's behavioral health workforce, supporting the career development of future social workers and counselors who are prepared to offer high-quality, evidence-based care to children and families. Objective 1: increase the number of new/expanded community partnerships with experiential training sites in high need and high-demand areas. Anticipated outcomes: 12 experiential training sites reflecting a range of pediatric primary care settings including school-based health centers, federally qualified health centers, and private practices; at least 80% of sites are in high-need and high-demand areas. Objective 2: promote collaborative training by using team-based models of care to integrate behavioral health care into interprofessional primary care settings. Anticipated outcomes: interns participate in year-long curriculum that covers critical evidence-based and culturally informed behavioral health practices; all experiential sites participate in collaborative training opportunities. At least 75% of training participants report satisfaction with these trainings; at least 75% report a change in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and practices related to providing integrated behavioral health care. Objective 3: recruit a diverse workforce interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Anticipated outcomes: interns represent a diverse group of trainees interested in working with pediatric population; at least 60% recruited are from under-represented groups; at least 60% are from rural/underserved areas. Objective 4: recruit, develop, and expand the capacity to train clinical supervisors to support and mentor behavioral health trainees. Anticipated outcomes: field supervisors participate in the bhipp cares training series for clinical supervisors and earn free continuing education credits. At least 75% report satisfaction with trainings; at least 75% report a change in knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy related to best mental health practices.