Behavioral health workforce education and training program for paraprofessionals - we propose a program that will build behavioral health workforce capacity by offering standardized learning and…

Behavioral health workforce education and training program for paraprofessionals - we propose a program that will build behavioral health workforce capacity by offering standardized learning and skills-enriching training, community-based experiential field placements, and training at registered department of labor apprenticeship employer partners, with an overarching goal of improving access to team-based care in integrated care settings. The georgia: understanding risk reduction to optimize childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood (GA URR o-CAY) program will leverage cross-sector collaborations to increase the number of students trained as behavioral health paraprofessionals. This program will: (1) establish and enhance relationships with community-based partners to expand and improve access to quality behavioral health services in high-need and high-demand areas; (2) promote collaborative training by using team-based models of care in integrated or interprofessional behavioral health and primary care settings; and (3) recruit a workforce interested in working with children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth in high-need communities. Trainee recruitment will be facilitated by the technical college system of georgia. Georgia's adolescent and young adult populations fare worse than counterparts nationally. For example, a higher percentage of high school students reported feeling SAD or hopeless (44%) than their counterparts across the country (42%) (annie e. Casey foundation, 2021). In 2024, georgia ranked 47TH out of 51 in MH access [which included youth with major depressive episode who did not receive MH services, youth with private insurance that did not cover behavioral or emotional problems, and students (k+) identified with an emotional disturbance for an individualized education program; MH america, 2024] and 41ST out of 50 in MH treatment for youth ages 12 to 17 (hrsa, MCH, america's health rankings, 2022-23). GA URR o-CAY has these specific, measurable objectives: (1) establish a 24-week level 1: pre-service training program that includes a 154-hour educational training curriculum (hybrid). (2) reduce barriers to program enrollments and retention by providing $6,000 stipends to 12 level 1 trainees per year, 48 pre-service trainees overall. (3) implement hands-on integrated training through 32 hours of simulated experiences and 80 hours of experiential learning and field placements via community-based partnerships. (4) provide full-time, 2,030-hour level 2: in-service training at a department of labor registered apprenticeship program site for 35% of level 1: pre-service trainees, providing stipends of $8,500 to four (4) level 2 trainees in years 2-4, 12 in-service trainees overall. (level 2 trainees also complete 12 hours of simulated experiences.) (5) increase the number of behavioral health paraprofessionals joining integrated care teams to strengthen the workforce and advance care in high-need and high-demand areas. The training - which will include online learning options and content on technology and digital literacy - will focus on developing knowledge and understanding of CAY who have experienced undue distress and are at risk for behavioral health disorders. Supported by cross-sector partnerships with four behavioral health training partners that serve CAY populations (one of which has five school-based health centers), GA URR o-CAY will train and integrate with care teams through experiential learning, field placements, and registered apprenticeships, cultivating community CAY wellness advocates. Funding priority: qualifies for funding priority 1. Funding preference: qualifies for funding preference 1.