Federal dollars aim to expand Ohio behavioral health workforce

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced this week more than $1.6 million in awards to Ohio training programs to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors in the state (Source: “Health and Human Services awards $1,615,720 to expand Ohio behavioral health workforce,” (Cambridge) Daily Jeffersonian, Sept. 22, 2016).

Nationally, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are funding 144 new and continuing grants for a total of $44.5 million through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program, which supports clinical internships and field placements for an array of professional and paraprofessional behavioral health disciplines and occupations.

In Ohio, more than $686,000 will support new grantees Heidelberg College and Youngstown State University. An additional $929,000 will fund programs at current grantees Case Western Reserve University, Northern Ohio Recovery Association, Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati.