Review the newly released findings and recommendations from the fall 2021 California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment survey!

2021 California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released the findings and recommendations from the fall 2021 California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment survey. This assessment is part of DHCS’ Behavioral Health Workforce Development Project (BHWDP). The BHWDP supports multiple peer organization grant initiatives funded by DHCS and administered by Advocates for Human Potential (AHP). AHP partnered with the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) for the workforce assessment component.

This report represents a major effort to collect vital information from California’s behavioral health workforce. More than 1,600 members of responded to the survey. Intensive small-group listening sessions also were held with representatives of 30 peer-run organizations throughout the state to further explore these issues.

The survey and listening session questions focused on both stable characteristics of the workforce (e.g., demographics, education) and more recent, timebound topics (e.g., the pandemic, telehealth). Future data collection will allow us to distinguish the long-term workforce trends from the short-term effects of the pandemic.

With the links below, you can access the 2021 California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment in three formats: the full report, an executive summary, and an infographic. These materials can used by organizations and leaders to help expand, elevate, enhance and empower behavioral health workforce in every California community.