New Jersey Faces Workforce Shortages Across Nearly Every Child-Serving Mental Health Discipline

New Jersey faces workforce shortages across nearly every child-serving mental health discipline, contributing to difficulties accessing timely mental health services for children and youth, according to a state-commissioned gap analysis. The shortages include child psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, therapists, psychologists, school-based behavioral health professionals, and professionals trained to serve youth with co-occurring mental health conditions and intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The report found that access challenges are particularly acute in rural areas and for youth with the most complex needs.

The workforce shortage is one of several structural barriers identified in the analysis. The report . . .