As a behavioral health equity coordinator, you can put your passion for social justice to work. You’ll ensure patients from all walks of life can access the mental healthcare they need. This is a great field if you want to improve the state of healthcare in the United States but aren’t interested in a clinical career. Here’s what you need to know about becoming and working as a behavioral health equity coordinator.
Health Equity
What does behavioral health equity mean? In America, people from different walks of life have different access to behavioral healthcare services. For example, rural Americans have fewer therapy providers near their homes, and low-income Americans are less likely to be able to afford clinical treatment. Health equity is about eliminating this gap. The Office of Behavioral Health Equity (OBHE) was created as part of the Affordable Care Act to coordinate efforts in this field. You’ll work within this office’s framework because most of the available funding for behavioral health equity is distribute through the OBHE.
Work Conditions
Behavioral health coordinators work in office settings. You’ll usually work a standard daytime shift, although you may need to attend some special events during nights and weekends. Overtime is not typical in this field. If you work for a large healthcare network, you may need to travel within your city or state to conduct trainings and evaluations. If you need a quiet, consistent workday, this isn’t the right field for you. You might juggle relationships with a dozen clinical practices, hospital staff and donors on a given day while constantly switching between tasks.
Necessary Skills
This is an exciting field that requires specialized program coordination skills. You’ll need a strong writing ability to successfully apply for grants and create training documentation. Creativity and flexibility are also important. You may be simultaneously creating a long-distance therapy network for rural patients, convincing neighborhood providers to lower their rates for behavioral health services and planning a donor appreciation dinner. Organization skills are needed, and so is the ability to talk to people of all backgrounds — from the executive board of a major hospital to low-income patients at a free clinic.
Education
There’s no single educational path to start working in behavioral health equity. Some coordinators have a social science background with degrees in psychology or sociology. Others earn a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) or Social Work (MSW). A few coordinators enter the field with significant work experience instead of formal education. You’ll have to convince future employers that you have a commitment to social knowledge, an understanding of barriers patients face when accessing healthcare and the project management skills to lead organizational training efforts. Look for hands-on learning opportunities like volunteer work or internships that can demonstrate these attributes. School programs that specialize in health equity or healthy justice can help connect you to relevant opportunities.
Related Resource: Top 10 Online Bachelor’s in Public Health Degree Programs 2018
If you’re committed to a career in this field, it’s not enough to have passion. You need to gain hard skills. You’ll have important responsibilities as a behavioral health equity coordinator; you want to have the skills and experience to meet those responsibilities.