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A strong behavioral health workforce is essential to expanding access to care in rural Oregon and supporting people who provide behavioral healthcare in rural areas is a critical step toward building a more sustainable and effective workforce.
Through Oregon’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is preparing to award approximately $2 million to support clinical supervision and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) preceptorships at approximately 12 community mental health programs (CMHPs) serving rural communities. Preceptorships pair students with experienced practitioners who provide coaching and direct supervision to expand student knowledge and practice.
These investments are intended to help participating organizations expand or strengthen clinical training and supervision for behavioral health professionals, support workforce development and retention, and increase access to high-quality behavioral health services in rural Oregon.
This funding builds on Oregon’s ongoing Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative (BHWI) and supports the Behavioral Health Talent Council recommendations and priorities from the Governor’s Office. CMHPs that used prior BHWI clinical supervision funding to successfully implement programs supporting their unique communities were eligible for this additional rural-specific funding.
Clinical supervision and preceptorships play an important role in helping behavioral health professionals build skills, navigate complex cases, and grow throughout their careers. For rural providers who may face unique workforce challenges and fewer opportunities for specialized support, strong clinical supervision can be especially valuable by supporting provider licensure and retention while greatly enhancing the quality of clinical care.
By investing in clinical supervision and preceptorships, RHTP is supporting the providers who deliver behavioral healthcare today while helping community mental health programs build a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future.
Funding amounts and budgets are being finalized. More information will be shared as details become available.
Learn more about Oregon’s Rural Health Transformation Program at our website.
Disclaimer
This program newsletter is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $197,271,577.67 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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