HHS awards more than $44.5 million to expand the nation’s behavioral health workforce

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced more than $44.5 million in awards to training programs to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors across the country.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are funding 144 new and continuing grants through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program, which supports clinical internships and field placements for an array of professional and paraprofessional behavioral health disciplines and occupations.

“The Administration is committed to ensuring that Americans of all ages have access to quality mental health and substance abuse services,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “These grants are an important step toward that goal by creating an educational pipeline for future behavioral health providers so people in need can get the care they deserve.”

“This emphasis helps strengthen the next generation of behavioral health workforce providers so they can work more effectively in a variety of 21st century health care settings.”

President Obama has designated September 18-23, 2016 as Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week. As part of the week, federal agencies are focusing on the work being done across the government and announcing new efforts to address the national prescription opioid and heroin epidemic.  

“The program emphasizes integrating behavioral health, primary care, violence awareness and prevention, and the involvement of families in the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae.  “This emphasis helps strengthen the next generation of behavioral health workforce providers so they can work more effectively in a variety of 21st century health care settings.”

More than $7.9 million will support 34 new grantees and an additional $36.6 million will fund 110 current grantees.  

"In 2015, 55 million adult Americans had a mental or substance use disorder,” said SAMHSA Principal Deputy Administrator Kana Enomoto.  “That's one out of five adults. These are serious, often life-threatening conditions, yet fewer than 39 percent of those affected got treatment. We must develop a robust, well-trained behavioral health workforce to ensure the future health of our nation."

For a complete list of fiscal year 2016 BHWET recipients, click here.