San Joaquin County faces a projected shortfall in the number of behavioral health workers, even more than the statewide average, over the next eight years, a state study finds.
But county officials say they are seeing success in programs that add more of the critically needed county workers, which could help close the gap.
The county will need an estimated 2,154 behavioral health positions by 2033, but is likely to have only 925 applying for those jobs, says the report by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. That’s a projected 57.1% shortfall compared to a statewide average shortfall of 37.1%…