Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

The behavioral health workforce shortage is one of the most urgent challenges facing our nation, making it harder for people to receive timely care. We conducted interviews with 11 organizations pioneering workforce innovations within integrated care settings throughout the United States to better understand those approaches are being implemented on the ground.   Here are five key takeaways from our new white paper, “Scalable Strategies to Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce,” courtesy of Senior Vice President for Health System Integration Clare McNutt, PA-C:   ➡️We cannot solve the workforce shortage with licensed clinicians alone. Expanding access requires rethinking who can safely deliver care, not just how many licensed clinicians we train.   ➡️The evidence is clear: Non-licensed providers can deliver evidence-based treatment, not just referrals. Global and U.S. data show that with the right training and supervision, community health workers, peers, and lay counselors can deliver evidence-based interventions and improve outcomes.   ➡️The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is a force multiplier. By using team-based care and psychiatric consultation, CoCM allows a small number of licensed clinicians to reach far more patients through thoughtful supervision and collaboration.   ➡️The best models don’t replace clinicians; they redesign teams. High-performing programs use interdisciplinary and tiered staffing models to achieve scale without sacrificing quality or efficiency.   ➡️Policy and payment must align on clear scopes of practice, competency-based training pathways, and sustainable reimbursement for team-based care. When those are bought into line, workforce expansion becomes not merely possible, but scalable.   To read and download the full white paper, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gZpTknSy   #MentalHealth #Research #WorkForce #CollaborativeCare #CoCM

Last week, we brought together leaders from across the U.S. mental health community to explore how AI can support the mental health experiences of young people today. In partnership with the American Psychological Association, this convening brought together experts in clinical care, research and community-based organizations focused on advocacy, peer support, and lived experience from the CEO Alliance for Mental Health. The focus was simple: listen first. To young people. To researchers and clinicians. To those working on the frontlines of care. Together, participants explored where support systems are working, where gaps remain, and how AI is already shaping how young people seek information, connection, and help. They also discussed where AI may expand access to support and where evidence, clinical expertise, and clear boundaries must guide its use. This conversation built upon OpenAI’s broader efforts to support mental health and  younger users in particular–including improving responses in sensitive moments, expanding access to crisis resources, and strengthening age-appropriate protections. This convening was a starting point. Progress will require continued collaboration across technology, mental health, and youth communities, grounded in science, transparency, and real-world expertise. We’re grateful to the leaders and especially the young people who shared their perspectives.  Thank you to the youth and leaders of Brotherhood Crusade and Hidden Genius for sharing their experiences and grounding this conversation in lived reality and NAMI, National Association of Social Workers, Steinberg Institute, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, The Kennedy Forum, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Peg's Foundation, American Psychiatric Association One Mind, The Transformative Good Lab for joining us.

I had the privilege of speaking at the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health's Maternal Mental Health Forum today alongside an incredible panel Tiffany Moore Simas Clare McNutt, PA-C Jennie Torti, MPH Anna Bobb. We came together around one shared goal: expanding access to integrated maternal mental health care. A few key takeaways that stayed with me: • OB/Gyn and frontline providers are often hesitant to screen for mental health conditions without a clear “what’s next.” We need treatment options that are integrated, accessible, and covered by insurance—so providers are confident that when they screen for depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, they are confident their patients will receive access to high quality, affordable care. • The infrastructure is already here: Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) CPT codes (99492, 99493, 99494) are included in most commercial fee schedules and 37 state Medicaid programs (with TennCare recently joining). • Psychiatric Access Programs—like the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP)—provide critical, real-time psychiatric consultation to frontline providers and have been successfully replicated nationwide. • The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute continues to be an invaluable resource for health systems and clinics working to integrate behavioral health into OB/Gyn care. • We’re seeing exciting innovation: CommonSpirit Health and the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health are embedding community mental health workers into OB/Gyn practices, supported by new billing pathways (G0019 / G0022). One question I was asked: “If you could wave a magic wand, what would you wish for?” My answer: alignment. Alignment across policymakers, payers, private investors, and academia to fund, scale, and sustain integrated models of women’s mental health care. Because the need is universal. Every person navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond deserves access to support—and we already have many of the tools to make it happen. Now it’s about coming together to scale them! #MMHFORUM #maternalmentalhealth

Lori Cook, the Meadows Institute's vice president of strategic partnerships for innovation, will speak on a panel at the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team's Tenth Annual Community Behavioral Health Conference (CBHC) on March 27, 2026. The panel, AI & Mental Health, will discuss her work in accelerating and amplifying innovation in mental health, so all people can get the healthcare they need. The conference will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Denison in the Texoma Event Center. Learn more and register: https://www.cbhcevent.com/

Feeling inspired after two days at the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health annual forum, surrounded by a truly incredible group, many of them women balancing challenging careers, young families, and advanced training, all while leading with expertise and compassion. It was a powerful reminder that meaningful systems change is driven by people who bring both rigor and heart to the work. I’m carrying this energy back into my work at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and the pursuit of my DrPH at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, with a renewed focus on building systems that support not just patients, but the workforce behind them. Grateful for the partnership and the push to keep growing. Joy Burkhard Jessica (Schiffman) Gaulton MD, MPH Tiffany Moore Simas Jennie Torti, MPH Anna Bobb Mara Child Adrienne Griffen Venice Haynes, PhD, MSPH @Sara Moyer Jennifer Payne Quianta Moore, MD JD Kacie Kelly Dr. Nastassia Harris, DNP, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC Mary Giliberti Shana Bartlett Kate Rope #MMHForum #WomenInLeadership #WorkingMoms #BehavioralHealth

📢 Attention mental health service providers!   The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced more than $69 million in funding opportunities to support programs addressing serious mental illness and suicide prevention as part of the broader “Great American Recovery Initiative” aimed at increasing access to mental health and substance use services. The grants announced include:   ➡️  $43 million for the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI): This program supports communities in building coordinated systems of care for children, youth, and young adults (birth through age 21) experiencing serious emotional disturbance.   ➡️$16.1 million for Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems: This program provides funding for health care systems to implement the Zero Suicide framework, a system-wide approach to suicide prevention that includes screening, care coordination, and ongoing monitoring of patients at risk.   ➡️$10 million for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT): This funding supports state and local efforts to implement or expand AOT programs for adults with serious mental illness who meet civil commitment criteria.   Read the full announcement on SAMHSA’s website: https://lnkd.in/eEjdNQHr   #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SMI

As more states adopt Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) billing codes, clear guidance on licensure and education requirements for Behavioral Health Care Managers (BHCM) is essential. The Meadows Institute developed a new resource to support health systems in confidently navigating varying guidelines across state Medicaid agencies. This guide summarizes the minimum BHCM qualifications required by state Medicaid agency to bill for CoCM services. View the new resource here: https://lnkd.in/g_2SDUPT

Please join us on March 18 for Growing Through Grief, a free, one-hour workshop designed to help caregivers better understand and support children and adolescents who have experienced loss. The workshop is facilitated by clinicians at the Trauma and Grief (TAG) Center at The Hackett Center for Mental Health, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and is sponsored by the Cullen Foundation and the Sarofim Foundation. **This workshop will be presented in Spanish.** By the end of this training, attendees will learn how to: ✅ Identify helpful versus unhelpful grief reactions in children and adolescents ✅ ‎Understand the three primary bereavement-related challenges children often experience ✅ Recognize trauma and loss reminders related to grief ✅ Identify grief-related risk and protective factors ✅ ‎Understanding when to seek additional mental health support Register today: https://lnkd.in/gSQ8rCAV

Texas colleges are home to nearly two million students who are balancing work, family, and academics on top of their coursework. Their mental health matters, and now there's a statewide plan to support it. The Texas Postsecondary Student Mental Health Coalition has released Strengthening Texas College Student Mental Health: A State of Texas Playbook, a first-of-its-kind guide for higher education leaders built around a public health approach to student well-being, including the Minding College Minds™ framework as a core strategy. The playbook offers college leaders practical, evidence-based guidance for building comprehensive campus mental health systems, from prevention and early intervention to crisis response, grounded in data and designed for real-world implementation. We are grateful to Dallas College, who led the coalition, and to the members of The Texas State University System, Alamo Colleges District, Trellis Strategies, and The Hope Center for contributing their expertise to the playbook. This is how policy, practice, and partnership come together for students to support their mental health. https://lnkd.in/gHNZQtYM #MindingCollegeMinds #StudentMentalHealth #HigherEd #StudentSuccess

📢We’re hiring! The Meadows Institute is a national leader in treating all people with mental health needs, turning evidence into action and expanding access to care where it matters most. As we continue to grow, we're looking for mission-driven professionals to join our team. Apply now for the following positions: ➡️General Counsel ➡️Accounts Payable Associate ➡️Social Media and Content Manager ➡️Senior Director of Major Gifts Visit our website at https://lnkd.in/g_u3Cak for more information and to apply. #MentalHealth #Jobs