Growing our Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Description: Indiana will grow and retain the rural behavioral health workforce through career pathways, employer support, and expanded training. This initiative will support a university-based career pathway for high school students, offering early exposure and training. To support the current workforce, this initiative provides employer grants to enhance recruitment and retention and strengthen clinical supervision. This initiative also expands Certified Peer Support Professional training and continuing education and provides statewide workshops to equip rural paraprofessionals with critical threat assessment and management skills to improve crisis response and community safety.
Activity
Track the progress and opportunities for Initiative 11.
| Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Grant agreements drafting for peer support and BH threat assessment training workshops | In Process | |
| Collaboration with Initiative 9 to establish Rural Healthcare Academies | Ongoing |
| Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Social Worker Supervision Program RFF | View posting | Closed 6/5/26; in review |
| Rural Provider Recruitment, Retention and Capacity Project RFF | View posting | Closed 6/5/26; in review |
| Identified initiative workgroup members | Completed |
FAQs
Do workforce recruitment and retention programs focused on K-12 populations still need to meet the minimum five-year workforce requirement?
No
What is behavioral health?
Behavioral health refers to the connection between a person’s behaviors, emotions and overall well-being, encompassing mental health conditions, substance use and lifestyle habits that affect physical health. It is a holistic concept that integrates how thoughts, feelings and actions influence both mind and body.
How will this program bring more mental health professionals to rural communities?
By increasing early exposure to behavioral health careers and providing employer grants and training support, Indiana ensures that rural areas are not just training grounds but sustainable places for behavioral health careers. This combination of education and support systems makes rural practice more accessible and viable, directly increasing the number of providers who choose to live and work in these communities.
What opportunities will students and local workers have to get training, scholarships or internships in behavioral health? Do I need to apply?
This initiative is structured so that students and local workers can access multiple pathways — education, peer support, employer programs, and training workshops — each requiring some form of application or enrollment.
- High school students can participate in the Rural Healthcare Academies for early career exposure and training.
- Local workers will apply through state or community-based programs for peer support training, continuing education and workshops.
- Employers can apply through state programs to receive grants to support recruitment, retention, capacity building, and clinical supervision initiatives.