Developing Sustainable Workforce Solutions in Behavioral Health and Direct Care
MDHHS, Health Management Associations, Public Sector Consultants, Behavioral Health Agencies
State Department and Agencies
Healthcare Industry
Organizations Involved
Occupations Impacted
Direct Care Workers; Other: Behavioral Health Workers, general
Workforce Development Focus
Increasing number of healthcare workers AND improving the quality of healthcare workforce AND healthcare workforce retention
Workforce Issue Addressed
Attracting individuals to work in a healthcare profession; Providing a benefit or incentive that encourages individuals to pursue a healthcare profession; Providing educational opportunities for healthcare professionals to become more specialized in their occupation;Training current healthcare professionals in new techniques or practices; Increasing wages and/or expanding benefits for current healthcare professionals; Increasing work and/or workplace flexibility for current healthcare professionals; Expanding career and/or professional development opportunities of current healthcare professionals
Description
MDHHS received funding through the MHEF grant to facilitate stakeholder engagement sessions with the goal of finding solutions for workforce shortages in Michigan among Direct Care Workers and BH practitioners. Stakeholder engagement concluded with a final report outlining several recommendations including implementing a Worker Centric Model that enhances wages and benefits, invests in worker skills, removes barriers, increases flexibility, uses technology to simplify, supports wellness, and creates policy changes.