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Gov. Tina Kotek announces new council to grow Oregon’s behavioral health workforce – chaired by her wife - OregonLive.com
Behavioral Health Workforce (Google News) · May 27, 2025
In plain language
Oregon’s governor has created a new group called the Behavioral Health Talent Council to address the state's severe shortage of mental health workers. The council is led by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, a former social worker who will serve in the role for free. The group's goal is to find ways to recruit more providers, reduce staff turnover, and increase diversity in the workforce. This effort comes as reports show most Oregon counties lack enough providers to meet the needs of residents.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Oregon faces a critical shortage where 88 percent of counties lack enough mental health providers for their residents.
- First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson will lead a new council to improve recruitment and diversity in the behavioral health workforce.
- The council consists of mental health executives, state agency leaders, and university officials.
- The task force has until January 2026 to provide recommendations for fixing the state's provider shortages.
- Oregon currently ranks fourth in the nation for the highest rates of mental illness among residents.
Gov. Tina Kotek announces new council to grow Oregon’s behavioral health workforce – chaired by her wife OregonLive.com
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