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Resources by Topic: Behavioral health workforce

Geographic Variation in Shortfalls of Dementia Specialists in the United States
Reports on distribution of dementia specialists to identify potential dementia care shortage areas for the older adult population. Discusses the impact on rural residents.
Author(s): Jodi L. Liu, Lawrence Baker, Annie Yu-An Chen, Jue (Jessie) Wang
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(7)
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Attitudes Toward and Training in Medications for Opioid Use Disorders: A Descriptive Analysis among Employees in the Youth Legal System and Community Mental Health Centers
Results of a survey of 181 medications for opioid use disorder uptake (MOUD) professionals who work with youth legal system (YLS) and community mental health center (CMHC) settings in eight counties of a Midwestern state. Compares attitudes toward MOUD treatment, training, and workplace culture in rural versus urban areas, among CMHC versus YLS respondents, and more.
Author(s): Lauren M. O'Reilly, Katherine Schwartz, Steven A. Brown, et al.
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, 32
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Physician Assistants/Associates in Psychiatry: A Workforce Analysis
Examines U.S. physician assistants (PAs) practicing in psychiatry with comparisons to PAs practicing in other specialties. Utilizes National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) data to analyze the PA workforce according to growth in the field since 2013, median income, job satisfaction, and demographics, including gender, ethnicity, languages used, age, and rural versus urban practice setting.
Author(s): Mirela Bruza-Augatis, Andrzej Kozikowski, Roderick S. Hooker, Kasey Puckett
Citation: Human Resources for Health, 22(40)
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Decisions to Practice in Rural Areas Among Mental Health Care Professionals
Research letter describing a study examining factors associated with mental health professionals' decisions to practice in rural areas and whether those factors differ by professional type. Uses data from Minnesota's health licensing boards and a survey of active Minnesota healthcare professionals collected from 2022-2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by provider type and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Teri Fritsma, Andrew P.J. Olson, Selam Woldegerima, Hannah MacDougall
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2421285
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Playbook for Enhancing Indiana's Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce
Provides an overview of strategies to improve the mental and behavioral health workforce in Indiana, with a focus on the health workforce pipeline, school-based behavioral health workforce, clinical training, and the alignment of education, policy, and practice. Includes county-level maps that depict workforce strength, location of behavioral health training programs, and Area Health Education Center (AHEC) regions. Includes data on behavioral health issues in Indiana as well as references to successful programs in other U.S. states.
Author(s): H.L. Maxey, M.M. Tobin
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Indiana University School of Medicine
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North Carolina Mental Health - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
County-level map of Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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Disasters and Impacts in Appalachian Kentucky: A Behavioral Health Analysis
Reports on disasters in 8 rural southeast Kentucky counties in 2021-2022, the changing nature of the disasters, and the behavioral health impact on the residents affected. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by disaster type and impact.
Author(s): Walter David Mathews, Joseph M. Clark, Amy S. Potts
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 132–147
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Pandemic-Era Trends in Telehealth Use among Americans with Private Health Insurance
Brief analyzing telehealth use between 2019 and 2021 for people younger than 65 with private health insurance. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on telehealth use. Analyzes data by various factors such as age, rurality, access, broadband availability, and more. Discusses policy implications related to broadband access, mental healthcare provider shortages, costs, access, and equity. Includes both nationwide and state-by-state rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): Beth Carter, Olivia Dean, Alex Hartzman, Luis Arzaluz, Aiden Wynia
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Alabama Health Professional Shortage Areas - Mental Health
County-level map with shadings showing geographic and low-income Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Alabama.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Department of Public Health
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New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC
Recording of a May 9, 2024, webinar discussing Medicare coverage of marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) effective January 1, 2024, and the implications for Rural Health Clinics. Describes skills and attributes of MFTs and MHCs and provides an overview of common mental health concerns for older adults. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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