Behavioral Health Workforce Council - ADAMH Board of Franklin County

Council Mission

The ADAMH Behavioral Healthcare Workforce Council’s mission is to create, advise and implement a strategic Franklin County workforce development plan to assist in recruiting and retaining a diverse local workforce, identifying opportunities and services capacity, strengthen career pathways and promote related policy advocacy.

Workforce Development Plan

Read the workforce development plan to learn about the council's formation, recommendations and next steps.

Recommendations at a Glance

This workforce development plan focuses on four key priorities to address the behavioral health workforce shortage in Franklin County. The priorities represent a strategic and collaborative approach to addressing the realities affecting community-based mental health and addiction recovery support services.

Priority 1: Recruitment and Retention

Develop strategic partnerships with educational entities and healthcare providers to recruit and retain aspiring and new professionals across the continuum of behavioral health disciplines to diversify and grow the workforce.

GOAL: To meet emerging community needs, Franklin County community behavioral health agencies will attract and equip talented professionals and ensure consistent organizational support for the ongoing development and retention of a diverse workforce.

ACTION: Partner with higher education and the ADAMH provider network to develop student cohort pilot

Priority 2: Leadership Development

Leaders are responsible for aligning employees’ attitudes, behaviors and beliefs with the organization’s values to create a climate where everyone feels they belong and are valued. Leadership development opportunities will provide adequate and appropriate resources to equip and support leaders and their teams in meeting workplace expectations.

GOAL: Franklin County community behavioral health leaders will have enhanced skills to build and sustain a healthy workplace culture where employees feel valued and can thrive.

ACTION: Develop a Franklin County Community Behavioral Health Leadership Academy.

Priority 3: Funding

Financial stability for community behavioral health agencies through diversified revenue streams to provide competitive compensation and benefits to the behavioral health workforce.

GOAL: Franklin County community behavioral health agencies will have current policies, procedures and resources in place that promote innovative practices responsive to emerging service delivery and workforce needs to support and promote operational sustainability.

ACTION: Develop and implement an investment strategy that leverages financial partnerships with stakeholders to support workforce incentives.

Priority 4: Advocacy

A systematic effort to support and recommend changes to policy, legislation, funding and services that sustains a community behavioral health system that provides equitable, quality, client-centered care that meets the needs of Franklin County residents.

GOAL: Franklin County will have a countywide collective of consistent, committed community behavioral health advocacy influencers to monitor and identify opportunities on the local, state and federal levels and advance policy changes that are critical to workforce.

ACTION: Activate an advocacy coalition to advance policy priorities.

Council Members

Angela Stewart, Maryhaven
Anthony Perry, ADAMH Board of Franklin County
Carolina Trindade, ADAMH Board of Franklin County
D Malone, ADAMH Board of Franklin County
Danielle Sydnor, The Presidents' Council
Denise Martin, ETSS Tewahedo Social Services
Jerry Saunders, Africentric Personal Development Shop
Juliet Dorris-Williams, The P.E.E.R. Center
Kamilah Twymon, Center for Family Safety and Healing
Kirk Dickerson, Columbus State Community College
Lauren Rummel, Aspyr Workforce
Maggie Hallett, Mental Health America of Ohio
Mary Byrnum, Franklin University
Mary Miller, Franklin County Children Services
Michael Preston, Concord Counseling Services
Monica Cerrezuela, ADAMH Board of Franklin County
Nate Toops, Directions for Youth and Families
Rejeana Haynes, St Vincent Family Services
Sara Harrison-Mills, Syntero Inc.
Sherrice Thomas, Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Susan Lewis Kaylor, St. Vincent Family Services
Tom Gregoire, The Ohio State University