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A Strategic Plan for Connecticut

Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce for Children, Youth, and Families

Family seeing a psychologist

When we strengthen the behavioral health workforce, children and communities in Connecticut are stronger.

This strategic plan was developed to guide the State in building a sustainable workforce capable of meeting the behavioral health needs of Connecticut's children, youth, and families.

The report, Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce for Children, Youth, and Families: A Strategic Plan for Connecticut:

  • Provides Connecticut with a blueprint for supporting a strong, diverse, and competent workforce to meet the behavioral health needs of children. 
  • Reviews conditions contributing to the current workforce challenges, as well as the strengths in Connecticut's system of care for children. 

  • Includes examples from other states of best practices and innovative solutions that can be applied within Connecticut to address the immediate and long-term needs of the workforce. 

  • Identifies eight recommendations for policy and system changes that emerged from a comprehensive and collaborative process inclusive of workforce, family, faculty, and national expert perspectives.

The plan was developed by CHDI in collaboration with the Children’s Behavioral Health Plan Implementation Advisory Board and funding from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). A diverse group of nine Strategic Plan Advisors with expertise in Connecticut’s system of care for children provided guidance on the process and development of recommendations. Additional input was gathered through a survey of Connecticut providers, families, and others; interviews with 20 experts in the field; and a comprehensive review of best practices and innovative solutions across the country.

 

Download the Executive Summary

Download the Full Report

 

View progress updates on the strategic plan

 

Related media coverage


To Improve Access and Build Connecticut’s Behavioral Health Workforce, We Need to Talk About Reimbursement Rates 
CT By the Numbers (originally published on the CHDI blog), 3/9/24
 

Op-Ed by President & CEO Jeff Vanderploeg: CT Can Build Sustainable Behavioral Health Workforce for Families 
CT Insider, 1/29/24
 

CT makes recommendations to improve children's behavioral health 
New England Psychologist, 2/3/24
 

New Connecticut Strategy to Address BH Workforce, Youth Care Needs 
Mental Health Weekly, 11/13/23
 

For the People Radio Interview with Jason Lang 
Connoisseur Media, 11/19/23 (recording available)
 

Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce: A Strategic Plan for Connecticut 
CT By the Numbers, 11/11/23
 

Report: CT needs to bolster child behavioral health system 
CT News Service, 11/24/23

 

Strategic Plan Co-Authors

Aleece Kelly
 

Aleece Kelly, MPP
Senior Associate

Contact Aleece

Jason Lang
 

Jason Lang, PhD
Chief Program Officer

Contact Jason