Partnering on New Programs: Behavioral Health
“The mission and values of MassBay and Advocates are closely aligned,” says Diane Gould, CEO, Advocates and member of MassBay’s Framingham Center Advisory Committee. With employees who do not yet have a degree and many others who wish to get back into an academic program, it is very easy for her to say, “come to Advocates— we have an amazing partnership with MassBay!”
The volume and complexity of the need for behavioral health care is compounded by severe labor shortages and has made access to treatment increasingly difficult in communities across the nation. The MetroWest region is no exception. For example, the Framingham-based non- profit agency Advocates, which serves 30,000 children and adults facing a broad range of physical, behavioral, and intellectual conditions, has had a 28% average staffing vacancy rate across all areas of behavioral health, for both residential and outpatient care, for several years. To help address this burgeoning situation, MassBay planted the seeds earlier this year for a new pathway program with its new, non-credit Behavioral Health Technician program. Now, MassBay is partnering with William James College and other workforce agencies to develop a Liberal Arts: Behavioral Health Studies concentration within their associate degree programs. This evolving pathway will begin to address the need to hire a broad spectrum of behavioral health professionals, providing students with training and education that will help them find jobs now and embark on a rewarding career path in the months and years ahead.
“In creating this program, MassBay is fostering a safe, stable, and sustainable workforce, which will help meet the demand for frontline workers and prepare students to continue their education and licensing with local four-year institutions.” - Lizz Hannigan, Faculty and Chair for the Human Services Department
“The Behavioral Health crisis is here. It is not emerging. It is here.” - Diane Gould, CEO, Advocates and member of MassBay’s Framingham Center Advisory Committee
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