Overview
The HPC Behavioral Health Workforce Center was formed in partnership with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to conduct research and make data-informed policy recommendations to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in Massachusetts, including efforts to improve education and training pipelines, increase diversity and cultural competency, enhance opportunities for professional growth, and retain behavioral health providers in the workforce.
The HPC Behavioral Health Workforce Center serves as the Commonwealth’s primary hub for research on the behavioral health workforce. The Center aims to (1) identify gaps and challenges across communities and provider types; (2) monitor trends, particularly related to disparities in workforce representation and demand for services; and (3) support development of responsive, high-impact policy recommendations.
Research Agenda
The HPC Behavioral Health Workforce Center collaborates with state partners and stakeholders to capture data that informs policy development. Areas of research will include:
- A comprehensive study and analysis of rates paid for behavioral health services by both private and public payers and the adequacy of those rates.
- A study of licensure and certification processes for the behavioral health workforce.
- A study to establish baseline behavioral health workforce needs throughout the Commonwealth and develop recommendations and strategies to meet those needs.
Stakeholder Perspectives
To support the Center’s research agenda and development of policy recommendations, the HPC Behavioral Health Workforce Center will convene providers, patient representatives, industry experts, policymakers, and community advocates to provide behavioral health workforce expertise and diverse perspectives.