The current and future health care workforce shortage is a strategic issue that every health and human service executive is acutely aware of. There is data on current and future shortages from several sources.

The federal data (see HRSA Data Warehouse Workforce Projections) estimates a 2026 adult psychiatry shortfall —with operational capacity of 72% and a national shortage of over 14,000 psychiatrists. For child and adolescent psychiatry, projected operation capacity is 77% with a 3,280 shortage.

For clinical social workers in behavioral health, operating capacity is estimated at 97% with an estimated shortfall of 2,500 professionals. And the workforce gap is not limited to behavioral health. In primary care, projections show a national shortage of 55,700 physicians.

To address the situation, almost every state has…