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

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.
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Reviews conditions contributing to the current workforce challenges, as well as the strengths in Connecticut's system of care for children.
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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.
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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
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
Learn more about strengthening Connecticut's behavioral health workforce
Blog series
Read our special blog series on CT's behavioral health workforce challenges - and solutions.
Presentation to Legislators (Video)
Watch a 2024 presentation on the plan to CT legislators at the Moving Beyond Implications Conference.
Kids Mental Health Training Portal
Online trainings on behavioral health topics for the child-serving workforce.
State Policy Strategies
Plan co-authors published a peer-reviewed article, "State Policy Strategies for the Workforce Emergency in Behavioral Health" in Psychiatric Services.