Behavioral Health Forum Workforce Initiatives

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The Behavioral Health Forum is a convening body for organizations that provide behavioral health services to Medicaid populations, enhance the behavioral health workforce, or interact with other ways with behavioral health systems in Eastern Washington. In 2022, the Forum engaged in a participatory budgeting process to allocate $1.2 million of integrated managed care funds to 12 initiatives that support the behavioral health workforce. This funding is available to eligible organizations and individuals as determined by Forum members. Descriptions and details for these initiatives can be viewed by clicking the plus sign (+) beside the orange headings below. Note that some are currently open and some have not yet launched.

For additional information, see our 2024 Behavioral Health Workforce Investments Update. If you have questions or would like additional details about the initiatives listed here, contact Hannah Klaassen, Program Manager (Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org).

 

Workforce Recruitment & Retention

  • September 2023 update: all funds have been allocated to support provider organizations with supervision for master’s level behavioral health (including SUD) staff so they can gain critical licensure and the region can build supervision capacity.

    Read results of the round one behavioral health supervision funding at this link. Stay tuned for reporting results from this second round of funding, coming in 2024.

  • Funding covered the cost for behavioral health providers serving Medicaid populations in the Better Health Together region to complete the SUDP Alternative Certification program through the Community Colleges of Spokane.

  • The Forum has allocated a total of $207,864 in scholarships to support the first cohort (fall 2023 start date) in this new program at Spokane Falls Community College. The Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Integrated Behavioral Health (BAS-IBH) program builds on SFCC’s programs in addiction studies and integrated community services.

    To learn more about the degree, visit the SFCC website. The scholarship program will be managed by the SFCC team, including the decision process and award distribution.

  • Funds provide flexible financial support to organizations in the BHT region (six counties and three reservations in Eastern Washington) that are training the behavioral health workforce through formal practicum and internship programs. By offering this funding, the Forum aims to support supervisors, administrators, clinicians, and clinicians-in-training to better train and retain members of the Medicaid-serving behavioral health workforce.

  • At the November 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $150,000 of their remaining available funds for member organizations to use at their discretion to support the behavioral health workforce. Visit this web page [LINK] to see full details. The opportunity to request funds closes December 31, 2024.

 

Peers & Community Health Workers

  • This initiative funds one week-long Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) training specifically for Eastern Washington candidates and several WRAP trainings for Peers.

    Twenty people completed CPC training November 13-17, 2023.

    WRAP training dates will be posted when confirmed.

    To learn more about the Certified Peer Counselor role, complete the online prerequisite course, and apply for a Health Care Authority CPC training, visit this Health Care Authority web page.

  • Information about the next Wellness Recovery Action Plan training, scheduled for Q1 2025, will be sent to the Forum contact list when registration open.

  • Connect with the Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network to attend monthly meetings and find out more about future training opportunities: EWCHWNetwork@BetterHealthTogether.org.

 

Training & Education

  • Training offered in fall 2024 included mental health first aid, intergenerational colonial trauma, and motivational interviewing.

  • At the June 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $45,000 of training funds to offset lost billable hours. These dollars provide direct payments to member organizations to replace income lost when staff members are engaged in training that prevents them from billing for their time. Funds can cover any trainings attended by billable staff during the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.

    Eleven organizations applied for funds and were awarded $4090 each to offset lost billable hours and support training for the behavioral health workforce.