Workforce Development: Core Competencies and the Intersection of Criminal Justice, Disparities, and Early Psychosis-View Presentation

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The session, led by Dr. Jessica Monaghan Pollard, focused on workforce development and core competencies in sectors intersecting with criminal justice, early psychosis treatment, and racial disparities. Dr. Pollard, the director of Behavioral Health at Maine's Department of Health and Human Services and an expert in early psychosis programs, emphasized the importance of developing a competent workforce. She introduced core competencies such as assertive outreach, community engagement, and handling criminal justice system interactions. Emphasizing these skills enhances treatment efficacy and helps mitigate the risk of justice involvement for clients, particularly those from racially diverse backgrounds.<br /><br />Recruitment and retention of staff are critical due to challenges like high documentation burdens and workforce shortages. Dr. Pollard discussed strategies such as using competencies for job descriptions and performance evaluations to aid these processes. Furthermore, she emphasized the necessity of adopting diverse training methods, fostering professional development, and providing high-quality supervision as part of workforce management. This comprehensive approach helps maintain a competent and motivated workforce, essential for the effective delivery of care.<br /><br />The session also highlighted dealing with potential justice system involvement, underscoring the significance of understanding systems like the Sequential Intercept Model, which aids in identifying points of intervention for mental health professionals. Overall, the session advocated for a holistic and coordinated care approach, addressing both clinical competencies and structural aspects like administrative burdens, to enhance workforce effectiveness in behavioral health settings.

Keywords

workforce development

core competencies

criminal justice

early psychosis treatment

racial disparities

recruitment and retention

diverse training methods

Sequential Intercept Model

behavioral health

professional development