Workforce challenges in the public mental health system: A study of program managers and direct care staff in Oklahoma

In 2005 Oklahoma was one of seven states (now nine) to receive a five-year Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) from the federal Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). The purpose of these grants is to help transform state mental health systems from “broken and fragmented” systems to systems that delivery excellent mental health care with a focus on recovery (President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003). A major challenge faced by all states is assuring that a stable, competent workforce is available to provide needed services.

State mental health authorities typically do not have empirical information about the characteristics of their current workforce. In order to fill this information gap, we undertook a multi-level, web-based survey of organizations, program managers, and direct care staff providing mental health services in Oklahoma. In this presentation, we will report findings from this study, as well as a description of study methods. The study included both hospital-based and ambulatory care programs. Results will include rates of turnover and retention, disaggregated by position type (professional and nonprofessional), as well as difficulties in recruitment. Additional findings will include the status of programs' cultural and linguistic competencies, in addition to needs for training in core competencies, staff development practices, and job satisfaction. Results for programs providing services to children and adults will be separately presented. We will also report on the presence of adult peers and family members in the workforce.