Addressing Virginias Mental Health Workforce Shortages Mental Health

Addressing Virginia’s Mental Health Workforce Shortages Mental Health Professionals Shortage Data Ken Studer, Ph. D. Shortage Designations Manager State Efforts to Address The Workforce Shortage Aileen Harris, M. S. A. Healthcare Workforce & Rural Health Manager Virginia Department of Health Office of Minority Health & Public Health Policy Division of Primary Care & Rural Health

Office of Minority Health & Public Health Policy Mission • To identify health inequities, assess their root causes, and address them by promoting social justice, influencing policy, establishing partnerships, providing resources and educating the public.

Division of Primary Care & Rural Health Mission • To focus on barriers to access to care that contribute to poor/inequitable health outcomes.

Strategies to Address Needs • Identifying communities with the greatest unmet health care needs, disparities, and health workforce shortages • Identifying the key barriers to access to health care for these communities; and working toward solutions

Health Professional Shortage Designations

Mental Health HPSAs in Virginia • Virginia currently has 65 separate Mental HPSA Designations in 85 Counties – – 25 Community Health Centers 25 Correctional Facilities 2 State Mental Hospitals 16 Geographic Areas (10 CSB Catchment Areas) • Short 23 Psychiatrists • Find Listing at: http: //hpsafind. hrsa. gov/

Mental Health HPSAs in Virginia

Distribution of Psychiatrists by Sector

Distribution of Psychiatrists

Distribution of Clinical Psychologists

Distribution of Licensed Professional Counselors

Distribution of Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Target Areas: FTE Child Psychiatry per 100, 000 18 Years and Under

Models of Care: Virginia Acute Care Hospital Psychiatric Beds

Finding Solutions to Disparities in Access to Mental Health Care • Understand the Distribution of the Problem – Rural – Inner City • Target Areas of Highest Need – Children – Uninsured • Develop Appropriate Models of Care – Use all Mental Health Professionals Efficiently – Address Unique Community Needs

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage • Assure Provider Support • State and Federal Incentive Programs to Increase Access to Care • Strong Recruitment Efforts

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage Federal and State Incentive Programs • Programs available to practitioners seeking practice opportunities in Virginia – Two (2) Loan Repayment Programs – J-1 Visa Waiver Program – Three (3) Nursing Scholarship Programs

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Programs • Virginia Physician Loan Repayment Program* • Virginia State Loan Repayment Program* • National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Program *Application Period is January 1 – May 1 *Funding amount $50 K to $120 K

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage J-1 Visa Waiver Program • Must practice primary care for at least 3 years in a federally designated health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area • Also open to specialists • 30 slots annually (10 FLEX slots)

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage Nursing Scholarships • Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship Program for Licensed Practical Nurses (funding and award amount varies) • Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship Program for Registered Nurses (funding and award amount varies) • Virginia's Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship Program ($5, 000)

The State’s Efforts to Address the Mental Health Workforce Shortage Strong Recruitment Efforts • Free Recruitment Website to promote Virginia – PPOVA - www. ppova. org Subscribe to PPOVA Updates! • 3 RNet – National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network • “Virginia: A Healthy Place to Work” Recruitment Video • Recruitment and Direct Contacts • Virginia State Rural Health Plan – Healthcare Workforce Council

Resources • Office of Minority Health & Public Health Policy Website http: //www. vdh. state. va. us/healthpolicy/ • Primary Practice Opportunities of Virginia Website www. ppova. org Email Contact: Aileen Edwards Harris, M. S. A. Aileen. Harris@vdh. virginia. gov (804) 864 -7436 Kenneth Studer, Ph. D. Kenneth. Studer@vdh. virginia. gov (804) 864 -7428