Research Note—Integrated Care Training and Preparedness: Evidence From 5-Years of Postgraduation Data

ABSTRACT

Social work has seen significant federal investment through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) for Professionals grants. This research note examined differences between BHWET trainees and general MSW graduates regarding self-reported knowledge of integrated behavioral health competencies, job placement, and starting salaries. A survey was administered 10 months after graduation (N=288) for five graduating classes (2014-2018). Bivariate two-tailed t-tests and Fisher’s exact tests examined group differences. BHWET participants rated interprofessional abilities and integrated care skills significantly higher; were significantly more likely to secure employment quicker; work on interprofessional teams; and earn higher salaries, compared to counterparts. Demonstrating the effectiveness of workforce initiatives is necessary to document best practices and continue federal investment in the social work workforce.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Services Resource Administration under [Grants G02HP27990 and M01HP31370].

Notes on contributors

Lisa de Saxe Zerden

Lisa de Saxe Zerden is the Senior Associate Dean for MSW Education and an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Brianna Lombardi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Deputy Director of the Carolina Health Workforce Research Center a Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Ting Guan is an Assistant Professor at the Syracuse University Falk School of Social Work. Steve Day is an Associate Research Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Anne Jones is a retired Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Meryl Kanfer is the BHWET Program Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work