Training, recruitment, and retention of the workforce are ongoing challenges for providers of substance abuse and mental health treatment and prevention services. To help, SAMHSA recently released two new publications:
An Action Plan
for Behavioral Health Workforce Development offers an overview of key findings of
a multiyear process that helped formulate recommendations for an Action Plan. The
publication reviews workforce issues and identifies recommendations for goals, objectives,
and action steps for strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
Strengthening Professional Identity: Challenges of the Addictions Treatment Workforce summarizes trends in addictions treatment and the challenges faced by the workforce. The publication also identifies recommendations for infrastructure, leadership and management, recruitment, education and accreditation, retention, and studies priorities.