Building a strong behavioral health workforce
Mission Statement
United We Heal Oregon creates sustainable opportunities for career advancement in healthcare through apprenticeship and training programs that are responsive to the needs of clients, patients, workers, and employers.
The Workforce Crisis
One in five adults has a mental health condition. These are our loved ones, our neighbors, our colleagues and our friends. But in Oregon, even as funding for community mental health has increased, care providers remain underpaid and overworked—and the most vulnerable Oregonians are paying the price.
- Typical caseload: 100+ clients
- Care provider turnover rate: 40%
- Wait time for appointments: 4-6 weeks
It’s no wonder Oregon ranks 51st in the country for mental health outcomes—behind every other state and Washington DC.
“At one point I was running eight to 10 groups per week with eight to 12 people per group. It’s just a grind. There wasn’t a lot of room to make change or to use the skills I’d learned to really help people. It’s not a system that seems very humane.”
Karen Hixson
Former Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Key Findings
To understand what’s working and what’s not, we spoke with clinicians throughout the state, assessed outcomes for clients, analyzed financial data and researched working conditions at Oregon’s behavioral health agencies. The upsetting findings reveal a system in crisis, where billing targets and profits outweigh people’s needs.
Overworked
Care providers juggle caseloads of 100 clients or more, making it impossible to provide consistent care.
Frequent Burnout
With huge caseloads and very little support, burnout is the norm, resulting in high rates of turnover.
Inconsistent Care
Clients regularly wait months for a follow-up appointment, and they’re forced to start over with new providers as often as every three months.
Underpaid
With stagnant pay and poor benefits, providers earn far less than other workers with similar levels of education.
More Funding, Poor Care
The six largest behavioral health agencies in Multnomah County have seen a 30% increase in funding in the past five years, but this increase in revenue has not resulted in better care.
“[Erika] has seen dozens of treatment providers for challenges related to her mental health symptoms. She has shared multiple experiences of suddenly losing a provider she felt connected to, and how this has made her reticent to fully engage with treatment. Erika is only one example of a client who is making strides towards mental health recovery in spite of the system, and not because of it.”
Behavioral Health Counselor
Portland
We envision a community where professionals are able to advance in their careers, employers retain a more skilled workforce, and continuity of care and access to services is priority.
Our Vision
When care providers are exhausted and overworked, we can’t do our best work to help our clients recover and heal. In today’s behavioral health system, real barriers stand in our clients’ way—and many of these issues stem from the fact that workers aren’t being heard, supported, or provided more accessible opportunities to advance.
United We Heal envisions a community where professionals are empowered to advance in their careers, employers are able to attract and retain a more skilled workforce, all individuals receive continuity of care, and communities receive access to care that resonates with their needs and access to responsive services. United We Heal is creating new opportunities will bridge major gaps in the healthcare workforce, equipping Oregon to be more responsive to the healthcare crisis in our state.
Our Goals
- Reasonable caseloads and staffing ratios that allow healthcare professionals to do their best work.
- Meaningful development of skills so providers can provide better care, through free education and training pathways.
- Adequate wages and benefits that reflect the value of the care provided.
- Transparency and accountability to ensure behavioral health agencies are putting client health first.
- Bring together employees and employers together as a movement, lifting the voices of employees and the voices of clients to drive meaningful change.
Our Values:
Community
Integrity
Innovation
Empowerment
Collaboration
Sustainability
