title: Workforce Development and Mental Health Transformation: A State Perspective.
abstract: The existence of a workforce crisis in behavioral health has been recognized for decades. However, workforce problems often have been viewed as too large, too complex, and too daunting for individual states to tackle. This article reviews the progress of one state in systematically strengthening its workforce as part of a federally supported effort to transform mental health services. The workforce priorities in Connecticut are identified and the specific workforce transformation projects and their impact are described. The success in sustaining these initiatives after cessation of federal support is reviewed. The authors conclude by offering five recommendations to guide comprehensive state workforce development. This work has particular salience for the many states across the nation that have identified behavioral health service and workforce needs as obstacles to comprehensive health care reform.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. michael.hoge@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hoge
authors.affiliation: Decision Solutions, Fairfield, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Migdole
authors.affiliation: Wheeler Clinic, Plainville, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cannata
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Francis X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D003237:Connecticut; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education; D003479:Curriculum; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Health care reform; Mental health; States; Transformation; Workforce development