Overview

Patients in Massachusetts struggle to find behavioral healthcare providers. Even with insurance coverage, identifying mental health treatment was a challenge. Research and studies pointed to a systemic problem in which many providers were at capacity and not accepting new patients.  William James College, a preeminent school of psychology, sought to maintain state funding for its education programs after a leadership change at the State House.

Our Work

Our team was tasked to raise the profile of William James College among Legislators to ensure continued state funding. We worked to develop and implement a lobbying campaign to raise awareness of the need to expand the behavioral health workforce. A key aspect of the lobbying campaign was strengthening the College’s existing relationships and cultivating new ones with leadership in the House and Senate.

Results

The College was included in several key stakeholder groups as the House and Senate began to take a close look at this issue in 2020. Working closely with the Senate President’s Office, we helped secure $250,000 for a Mental Health Workforce Pipeline program aimed at creating a workforce pipeline to encourage and support individuals from diverse backgrounds to work towards careers in mental health. This program was included in the final FY 2021 State Budget. Ultimately, our work ensured consistent state funding and support for broader workforce behavioral health programs.