County of San Bernardino

Department of Behavioral Health

Mental Health Services Act

Workforce Education and Training (WET)

Purpose of Workforce Education and Training• Address identified shortages

in occupations, skill sets, and individuals with unique cultural and linguistic competence whom provide services in the Public Mental Health System

• Education and training for all individuals who provide or support services in the Public Mental Health System, to include fostering leadership skills.

MHSA PrinciplesAll actions proposed in the WET Plan

must :•Develop and maintain a culturally

competent workforce.• Include clients and family

members, who are capable of providing client- and family- driven services that promote

–Wellness, –Recovery, and –Resilience

•Lead to measurable, values-driven outcomes.

History

• Planning money approved in July 2007-$754,000

• OTO funding approved in April 2008-$712,000

• WET Allocation was doubled in April 2008-Currently SB County has approximately $10.5M for the 10-year plan

Statewide WET Projects• Client and Family Member

Technical Assistance Center• Regional Partnerships Staffing

Support• Distance Learning• Stipend Programs

– Social Workers– MFT, Psychologists, Psych Techs

• Psychiatric Residency Programs

• Physician Assistant Programs• Loan Assumption Programs

Key Findings of Workforce Needs Assessment

• Many pre-licensed staff• Lack of bilingual staff• Hard to fill positions

– 10% threshold

• Loss of staff to state prison system

• Not a high number of staff close to retirement

Stakeholder Process

• Workforce Development Committee meetings

• Input from Community Based Organizations

• Meetings with Cal State San Bernardino and Loma Linda University

• Participation in the Inland Coalition

Actions

•Workforce Staffing Support•Training and Technical

Assistance•Mental Health Career Pathways

Programs•Residency, Internship

Programs•Financial Incentive Programs

Actions for the WET Plan were developed in the following categories:

Workforce Staffing Support

One Action:• Expand Existing Training

Program

Training and Technical AssistanceTwo Actions:• Training to Support the

Fundamental Concepts of MHSA including:– Cultural Competency– Evidence Based Practices– Recovery, Wellness and

Resilience

• Develop Core Competencies

Mental Health Career Pathways ProgramsThree Actions:• Outreach to High School,

Community College, Adult Ed and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Students

• Leadership Development• Peer and Family Advocate

Workforce Support Initiatives

Residency, Internship ProgramsTwo Actions:• Expand Existing Internship

Program• Psychiatric Residency Program

Financial Incentive Programs

Two Actions:• Loan Scholarship Program• Increase Eligibility for Federal

Workforce Funding

Budget

• San Bernardino County will receive approximately $10.5M to be spent over a 10 year period

• When the integrated plan is developed, up to 20% of CSS funding can be used to fund WET programs that align with department goals.

Timeline

Target Dates

Activity

5/15/08 CPAC Review

5/30/08-6/29/08

30-Day Public Comment Period for Draft WET Plan

7/3/08 Present WET Plan at Mental Health Commission Meeting

7/16/08 Public Hearing Held by the Mental Health Commission

7/25/08 Final WET Plan submitted to the state