In the decade since its inception, Nebraska has made significant strides in addressing its behavioral health workforce shortage. By leveraging targeted training initiatives, particularly through the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), the state has managed to increase its behavioral health workforce by 17%. This remarkable achievement has not only improved access to care for Nebraskans but has also captured the attention of other states grappling with similar workforce challenges. As behavioral health worker shortages persist nationwide, Nebraska’s approach stands as a beacon of hope and a potential model for other states, including Illinois.
The Birth of BHECN: A Response to Workforce Shortages
In 2009, the Nebraska state legislature established the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) to address the growing shortage of behavioral health professionals in the state. Recognizing the crucial need for mental health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas, BHECN was tasked with drawing more individuals into the behavioral health field and ensuring they remained there. With workforce shortages severely impacting the availability of care, the center’s creation marked a pivotal moment in Nebraska’s response to the crisis.
Prior to BHECN’s formation, Nebraska faced significant gaps in its behavioral health workforce, leaving providers overstretched and patients without timely access to care. The state’s limited number of psychiatrists, addiction counselors, and other behavioral health professionals, coupled with an increasing demand for services, created a perfect storm for workforce shortages. By establishing BHECN, Nebraska sought to alleviate this pressure through education, training, and strategic workforce development.
BHECN’s Impact on Nebraska’s Behavioral Health Workforce
Since its establishment, BHECN has had a profound impact on the state’s behavioral health workforce. One of the most significant accomplishments has been the increase in the number of advanced practice psychiatric nurses and physician assistants in Nebraska, with these roles growing by 59% and 67%, respectively, since 2010. This surge is a direct result of BHECN’s targeted training and education efforts, which have focused on preparing individuals to fill critical roles in the behavioral health field.
The center’s approach has been multifaceted. BHECN provides comprehensive training and education to behavioral health students and professionals statewide. Its offerings cover a wide range of topics, including telehealth, curriculum development, and other essential skills for contemporary behavioral health practice. The center’s focus on telehealth, in particular, has been crucial in expanding access to care, especially in rural areas where in-person services may be limited.
Beyond education, BHECN also conducts research on the behavioral health workforce, providing valuable insights into workforce trends and the needs of the state’s mental health system. This research helps inform policy decisions and ensures that Nebraska’s workforce development strategies remain aligned with the state’s evolving behavioral health needs.
Collaborative Care: A Key to Expanding Access
A core element of BHECN’s success has been its emphasis on collaborative care. Recognizing the challenges that rural communities face in accessing mental health services, BHECN has partnered with the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) to establish integrated behavioral health-primary care clinics across the state. These clinics, 25 of which are located in rural areas, serve as both service providers and training sites for behavioral health interns. By placing behavioral health services directly within primary care settings, the clinics help bridge the gap between mental and physical health care, making it easier for patients to receive the care they need.
This collaborative care model has not only expanded access to services but has also allowed trainees to gain hands-on experience in real-world settings. By combining education and service delivery, BHECN and MMI have created a pipeline for new behavioral health professionals while simultaneously addressing the state’s pressing care needs.
Ongoing Challenges: Gaps in Certain Professions
Despite these impressive gains, Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce is still not where it needs to be. According to federal criteria, 81 of the state’s 93 counties have a shortage of mental health professionals. While BHECN’s efforts have significantly bolstered the state’s workforce, the demand for services continues to outpace supply in many areas.
One area of concern is the decline in the number of psychiatrists and addiction counselors in the state. Since 2010, Nebraska has seen a 6% decrease in the number of psychiatrists and a 20% decrease in addiction counselors. These shortages highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the state, despite the positive trends in other areas. As BHECN Director Marley Doyle noted, “It’s still not enough to meet the needs,” underscoring the importance of continued investment in workforce development.
BHECN’s Funding and Sustainability
The success of BHECN can be attributed not only to its innovative programs but also to its diverse funding model. The center is financed through a combination of state funding, federal and state grants, and foundation money. This blend of financial support ensures that BHECN has the resources to continue its mission of expanding Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce and improving access to care.
For a deeper understanding of BHECN’s impact and its financial structure, one can refer to its annual reports, such as the fiscal year 2018-2019 legislative report, which outlines the center’s achievements and financial outlook. These reports provide transparency and demonstrate the tangible results of BHECN’s work in both workforce development and service delivery.
Illinois Takes Note: Exploring a Nebraska-Inspired Approach
Nebraska’s success with BHECN has not gone unnoticed. In recent years, Illinois has begun exploring the possibility of developing a similar behavioral health education center to address its own workforce shortages. In 2023, Illinois lawmakers passed a bill creating the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center Task Force. This group has been tasked with studying the feasibility of implementing a BHECN-style center in Illinois.
As the task force continues its work, members have expressed strong support for a Nebraska-inspired model. Janet Liechty, a social work professor at the University of Illinois and a member of the task force, has stated that the proposed center could bring significant benefits to Illinois, including improving the state’s workforce data collection, enhancing access to services in rural areas, and promoting integrated care. While the financing of such a center is still under discussion, the Illinois task force is hopeful that the proposal will move forward in the coming months.
National Implications: A Growing Crisis
Nebraska’s success with BHECN is especially notable given the broader context of behavioral health workforce shortages nationwide. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, the United States could be short by more than 250,000 behavioral health workers by 2025. This looming shortage threatens to exacerbate existing gaps in care, leaving many individuals without timely access to necessary services.
States like Nebraska and Illinois are taking proactive steps to address this crisis, but more needs to be done at the national level. The success of BHECN offers valuable lessons for other states grappling with similar challenges. By investing in education, training, and workforce development, states can begin to reverse the trends of declining workforce numbers and improve access to care for millions of Americans.
Conclusion: A Model for the Future
Nebraska’s experience with BHECN demonstrates that targeted investments in behavioral health workforce development can yield significant results. While challenges remain, the state’s success in expanding its behavioral health workforce by 17% since 2010 offers hope for other states facing similar shortages. As Illinois and other states look to replicate Nebraska’s model, the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska stands as a beacon of success, providing a roadmap for addressing one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today.
With continued investment, innovation, and collaboration, the future of behavioral health care in Nebraska — and across the nation — can be brighter, more accessible, and better equipped to meet the growing needs of those seeking mental health support.
