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To examine possible approaches to Texas' mental health workforce concerns, the Foundation hosted a conference entitled "Innovations in Mental Health Workforce Development: Exploring the Potential for Texas" on February 14, 2006. In the morning, nationally-known speakers addressed recent developments nationwide. John Morris discussed the work of the Annapolis Coalition in building a national strategic plan for behavioral health workforce development, as recommended by the President's New Freedom Commission. Dennis Mohatt reviewed challenges and opportunities faced by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in advancing the preparation of a qualified mental health workforce in rural areas of 15 western states. Karen Perdue described a university/state government/publicly-endowed trust partnership creating Alaska's Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative. Over lunch, Dave Wanser, chair of the Transformation Work Group, moved the focus to Texas. Workforce development is a major focus of Texas' Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant, a multi-million dollar, 5-year SAMHSA grant. After lunch, participants divided up into facilitated break-out groups to identify issues and approaches relevant to Texas. Topics for the break-out groups included professional education and training, recruitment and retention, paraprofessional and "prosumer" workforce, cultural and linguistic diversity, and continuing education. The break-out groups reported (PDF) back to a plenary session and, after comments by each of the earlier speakers, the audience members commented on the issues discussed throughout the course of the day. View the program agenda and the speakers PowerPoint presentations as follows: Program Agenda (PDF) Mohatt Presentation (PPT) Perdue Presentation (PPT) Wanser Presentation (PDF) Breakout Group Reports (PDF) |
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2008 Hogg Foundation for Mental Health The University of Texas at Austin |
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