December 01, 2022
Data from The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and SAMHSA-funded Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center at the University of Michigan1 indicate that improvements can be made to increase the diversity of the behavioral health workforce. Diversity in the workforce has been linked to positive employee and organizational-level outcomes, including increases in job satisfaction, performance, and decreases in turnover. Additionally, without widespread diversity in the SMHA workforce, clients from diverse backgrounds have limited opportunities to connect with a provider from a similar background (e.g., female, English as a second language, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), etc.).