Leadership is Needed to Address the Growing Workforce Crisis

The November 2013 issue of the journal Health Affairs has a major article, titled "Mental Health And Addiction Workforce Development: Federal Leadership Is Needed To Address The Growing Crisis," which will be available for a year free of charge. It provides an updated overview of the factors involved in increasing demand for addiction workers, including quotable highlights such as one from the SAMHSA Report to Congress on the Nation’s Mental Health Substance Abuse Workforce Issues, stating that every 10% increase in demand may require up to 6800 new substance use counselors.

The article also includes new sources and information about the need for addiction training across non-specialty multiple fields and specialty occupations. The article emphasizes the need for Federal leadership in mental health and addictions workforce development, but as action is taken in Massachusetts, the resources listed and issues described are useful frameworks for developing local efforts. In addition, if your organization is applying for grants to assist in workforce development efforts (such as from the Massachusetts Division of Career Services workforce training fund programs, this would be a good citation or source of additional references.