Mental Health Staffing Shortages―a Real Headache Mental health has come out of the shadows, creating bright new job opportunities in an industry working hard to attract and retain fresh recruits. "Since 1999, the mental health project has been exploring best practices in workforce development," explains Brian Keefer, program manager with the California Mental Health Planning Council, Human Resources Project. "The purpose is to expand the capacity and diversity of the public mental-health force in order to provide recovery-based practices. " The council provides assistance to individuals with serious mental illness and children with emotional disturbances. "The mental health community is short of professional workers," he reports, "and there are many entry points into this diverse field. You could begin as a volunteer and then as an outreach (外展) worker. This is someone who is hired with a certificate in human services or case management. "School Graduate a Must Keefer advises anyone thinking of working in the mental health industry to become licensed. Students can earn undergraduate degrees in a variety of courses, but they should really hone (磨练) in on graduate school. Licensing is generally attained three years after completion of a bachelor’s degree. The reason for licensing is a matter of dollars and job opportunities. Licensing is required by insurance companies to approve treatment costs. "There are opportunities for non-licensed mental health workers," Keefer reports, "but the majority of demand is for licensed and certified staff. " Salaries reflect the disparity (差距): Entry-level jobs for non-licensed mental health workers range from 25,000 to 35, 000 a year, while licensed professionals can earn as much as 75, 000 annually. "In comparison, people that work in summer recreational camps make 40, 000 a year," he points out. "In fact, a manager at a national fast-food chain makes the same as an entry-level case manager. "However, most people don’t go into mental health work to make a lot of money. Most have had a personal connection with the work, and that experience touched their life in some way and compelled them to pursue a career in the field. " Rusty Selix, executive director of the Mental Health Association in California, sees tremendous shortages in the mental health field for two reasons. First, there is a new public recognition of the importance and widespread need for mental health services. "People from all social levels are seeking help," he contends. "Those in the prison system need special attention because many professionals believe mental illness is to blame for much of their behavior." Secondly, the interest in exploring that care has not drawn an increased number of people to the field. The top four professions in the mental health field are child psychiatrists (精神病学家), adult and child psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and substance abuse services.Supply Shy of DemandThe mental illness of prisoners should be taken special care of, so that ______. A. they can be released out of the prison earlier B. they will no longer hurt any other prisoners C. the public can recognize their importance D. much of their behavior can be prevented All levels of professional care, from public and private facilities to prisons and the welfare system, are competing for qualified personnel. With shortages everywhere, all areas have a surplus of opportunities. Selix advises job seekers to explore marriage and family counseling, social work, psychiatry or bachelor-level work in counseling and nursing. All are related but very different in scope. Of course, shortages are the greatest in fields where more education is required."Mental health work is not the highest paying field, but it’s among the most satisfying," he contends. "People don’t retire; they work late because they enjoy what they are doing―helping another human being to overcome a problem. "If candidates are willing to work in the public community stage of mental health, there are allowance programs available from colleges and universities."I would encourage passionate people to ’ go for it’ because of the amount of job choices available," he declares. "It’s a growing field and the demand for staff is much larger than the current supply. "Nancy Kincald, spokeswoman for the California Department of Mental Health agrees. "We’re always recruiting qualified people," she reports. "But I don’t think that is exclusive to mental health; all trades including nursing and law enforcement are having difficulties. Seventy-six million baby boomers are marching toward retirement and that is a huge wave of the workforce to replace. "Generations ApartIt’s been more difficult to recruit into the social services, she adds, because a generation of young people believes the push is toward college and a future that is more financially secure."This philosophy is so different from the 1960s," she observes. "Young people were motivated to help others because of President Kennedy and the Peace Corps and other philosophies. But that’s not in the middle of today’s radar screen."I think young people today want to carry a briefcase and work for Google. "However, for those looking for a meaningful career in the mental health field, there is a fast track to a good paying job without years of schooling. The Mental Health Department has been working closely with community colleges to bring people into the system.Cuesta College, for example, offers a psychiatric technical program where students attend classroom instruction and gain hands-on experience at the Atascadero State hospital."We help graduates of the program to get their state license so they can begin working in the hospital," Kincaid explains. " These technicians work as a treatment team alongside nurses and physicians to help with mentally ill patient evaluation and treatment. Students could be hired to work as a state employee in the hospital while they are in the program. "The best place to investigate careers in the mental health field, she advises, is a career counselor’s office at your local community college. Job shadowing is one of the best ways to learn what a day in the life of a psychiatric technician is really like.Kincaid sums it up as a very rewarding challenge. "When I speak with staff in the mental hospitals, they tell me the work is not easy because people are in crisis. However, they also tell me the most rewarding part of the job is to be part of a treatment that turns someone’s life around.

Mental Health Staffing Shortages―a Real Headache Mental health has come out of the shadows, creating bright new job opportunities in an industry working hard to attract and retain fresh recruits. "Since 1999, the mental health project has been exploring best practices in workforce development," explains Brian Keefer, program manager with the California Mental Health Planning Council, Human Resources Project. "The purpose is to expand the capacity and diversity of the public mental-health force in order to provide recovery-based practices. " The council provides assistance to individuals with serious mental illness and children with emotional disturbances. "The mental health community is short of professional workers," he reports, "and there are many entry points into this diverse field. You could begin as a volunteer and then as an outreach (外展) worker. This is someone who is hired with a certificate in human services or case management. "School Graduate a Must Keefer advises anyone thinking of working in the mental health industry to become licensed. Students can earn undergraduate degrees in a variety of courses, but they should really hone (磨练) in on graduate school. Licensing is generally attained three years after completion of a bachelor’s degree. The reason for licensing is a matter of dollars and job opportunities. Licensing is required by insurance companies to approve treatment costs. "There are opportunities for non-licensed mental health workers," Keefer reports, "but the majority of demand is for licensed and certified staff. " Salaries reflect the disparity (差距): Entry-level jobs for non-licensed mental health workers range from $ 25,000 to $ 35, 000 a year, while licensed professionals can earn as much as $ 75, 000 annually. "In comparison, people that work in summer recreational camps make $ 40, 000 a year," he points out. "In fact, a manager at a national fast-food chain makes the same as an entry-level case manager. "However, most people don’t go into mental health work to make a lot of money. Most have had a personal connection with the work, and that experience touched their life in some way and compelled them to pursue a career in the field. " Rusty Selix, executive director of the Mental Health Association in California, sees tremendous shortages in the mental health field for two reasons. First, there is a new public recognition of the importance and widespread need for mental health services. "People from all social levels are seeking help," he contends. "Those in the prison system need special attention because many professionals believe mental illness is to blame for much of their behavior." Secondly, the interest in exploring that care has not drawn an increased number of people to the field. The top four professions in the mental health field are child psychiatrists (精神病学家), adult and child psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and substance abuse services.Supply Shy of DemandThe mental illness of prisoners should be taken special care of, so that ______. A. they can be released out of the prison earlier B. they will no longer hurt any other prisoners C. the public can recognize their importance D. much of their behavior can be prevented All levels of professional care, from public and private facilities to prisons and the welfare system, are competing for qualified personnel. With shortages everywhere, all areas have a surplus of opportunities. Selix advises job seekers to explore marriage and family counseling, social work, psychiatry or bachelor-level work in counseling and nursing. All are related but very different in scope. Of course, shortages are the greatest in fields where more education is required."Mental health work is not the highest paying field, but it’s among the most satisfying," he contends. "People don’t retire; they work late because they enjoy what they are doing―helping another human being to overcome a problem. "If candidates are willing to work in the public community stage of mental health, there are allowance programs available from colleges and universities."I would encourage passionate people to ’ go for it’ because of the amount of job choices available," he declares. "It’s a growing field and the demand for staff is much larger than the current supply. "Nancy Kincald, spokeswoman for the California Department of Mental Health agrees. "We’re always recruiting qualified people," she reports. "But I don’t think that is exclusive to mental health; all trades including nursing and law enforcement are having difficulties. Seventy-six million baby boomers are marching toward retirement and that is a huge wave of the workforce to replace. "Generations ApartIt’s been more difficult to recruit into the social services, she adds, because a generation of young people believes the push is toward college and a future that is more financially secure."This philosophy is so different from the 1960s," she observes. "Young people were motivated to help others because of President Kennedy and the Peace Corps and other philosophies. But that’s not in the middle of today’s radar screen."I think young people today want to carry a briefcase and work for Google. "However, for those looking for a meaningful career in the mental health field, there is a fast track to a good paying job without years of schooling. The Mental Health Department has been working closely with community colleges to bring people into the system.Cuesta College, for example, offers a psychiatric technical program where students attend classroom instruction and gain hands-on experience at the Atascadero State hospital."We help graduates of the program to get their state license so they can begin working in the hospital," Kincaid explains. " These technicians work as a treatment team alongside nurses and physicians to help with mentally ill patient evaluation and treatment. Students could be hired to work as a state employee in the hospital while they are in the program. "The best place to investigate careers in the mental health field, she advises, is a career counselor’s office at your local community college. Job shadowing is one of the best ways to learn what a day in the life of a psychiatric technician is really like.Kincaid sums it up as a very rewarding challenge. "When I speak with staff in the mental hospitals, they tell me the work is not easy because people are in crisis. However, they also tell me the most rewarding part of the job is to be part of a treatment that turns someone’s life around. \