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OHA cites workforce incentives, scholarships and retention gains as tools to expand behavioral health capacity
Summary
OHA officials told the subcommittee that targeted workforce incentives, scholarships, licensure-fee reimbursements and contracts have increased retention and expanded capacity, but vacancies remain.
OHA briefers told legislators on Feb. 4 that the Behavioral Health Division has distributed workforce incentives, tuition assistance and licensure reimbursements aimed at boosting recruitment and retention across the state.
Ebony Clark, behavioral health director, said the division distributed scholarships, tuition assistance and exam-fee reimbursements and contracted with local organizations to provide training and professional development. She said programs that received workforce incentive dollars reported a 94% retention rate for staff within those organizations.
Clark and Krista Jones said the division issued 36 scholarships, 467 tuition-assistance grants or stipends, and reimbursed about 15,703 exam-prep, registration or licensure fees. Officials also said the division has executed roughly 494 contracts with local organizations, including tribal entities, community mental health programs and peer-run organizations to expand training and diversify the workforce.
OHA officials told the subcommittee they are targeting aid to culturally specific organizations and to providers in rural, frontier and coastal areas, and that investments aim to reduce barriers such as the cost of education and licensure. They said future work will continue to address recruitment, professional development and career advancement to sustain growth.
Presenters offered to provide the committee with more detailed breakdowns of administrative costs per contract and the distribution of funds by program and service type.
