Report on National and Regional Workforce Development Needs and Efforts Released by SAMHSA

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During the past summer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Regional Administrators led behavioral health workforce meetings for each of SAMHSA’s 10 regions. Massachusetts state leadership participated in the Region 1 meeting in August 2015.

A summary of the common themes, needs, and requests across each of the regions as well as unique situations of particular States and territories was recently released.

The themes and requests from across the nation centered on nine areas: 

  1. Acceleration of Collaborative Learning (sharing practices and information across the country)
  2. Better Data and Improved Technology
  3. Peer Recovery Support Specialists
  4. Credentialing/Licensing and Reciprocity Issues
  5. Workforce Shortages and Retention Issues
  6. Training Challenges
  7. Funding and Budgetary Challenges
  8. Concerns about Parity
  9. Integration of Care and Continuum of Care

The document also includes a brief summary of unique challenges, successes and best practices in some states and territories. Massachusetts faces many of the same issues as other states and territories, but also is addressing many under the workforce development goals of the Commonwealth’s Substance Abuse Strategic Plan and the SA Workforce and Organizational Development Strategic Plan. 

The Careers of Substance website provides a conduit to many of the resources available for the Massachusetts substance use and addictions workforce, including:

Massachusetts’ legislation related to reimbursement for certain Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors came into effect this Fall, and there are ongoing efforts related to integration of care in the state.  

This is a great time to share your successes and join together to continue the progress in Massachusetts!