Behavioral Health Workforce Support
Date: 10/22/22
Trillium is committed to supporting efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health providers and expand access to care for all Oregonians, especially historically underserved and marginalized populations. In addition to our investment in 2022 Behavioral Health Workforce Stability Grants, we are partners in the Youth Pathways Project to introduce BIPOC youth in Lane County to behavioral health careers. We also play a leadership role in Lane County’s Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) workgroup, which is developing a pathway to support future employment of BIPOC Youth Support Specialists.
The Lane County Youth Pathways Project seeks to help address the behavioral healthcare provider shortage, increase the representation of the BIPOC community in the behavioral healthcare field, and increase access to culturally specific behavioral healthcare for all ethnicities. Trillium staff gave a presentation at the 2022 Medsplash Summer Camp in which we introduced youth to the Peer Support Specialist and Youth Support Specialist roles, as well as other behavioral health care careers they can pursue through higher education.
Lane County’s JEDI workgroup is developing a career pathway for BIPOC Youth Support Specialists. We are researching how organizations can use Youth Support Specialists, proposing options for expanding the range of organizations that use Youth Support Specialists, and implementing mentorship and support services.