SALEM, OR – Governor Tina Kotek announced the establishment of the Behavioral Health Talent Council to look for ways off adding to Oregon’s understaffed behavioral health workforce. The Council will be headed by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and is supposed to come up with recommendations for an actions to supplement work done recently by the Behavioral Health Talent Assessment. That group was established by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
The new 22-member Council will reportedly lean on experts from diverse backgrounds including direct service providers, healthcare administrators, licensing authorities, educational institutions, and professionals with pertinent experience in education and training options related to behavioral health careers.
“Every Oregonian deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare, including mental health and addiction services,” said Governor Kotek. “The lack of mental health and addiction professionals in Oregon threatens that vision, particularly for our most vulnerable communities. This council will go deeper into the issue and develop solutions that will strengthen our behavioral health system and improve access to care across the state.”…