Behavioral Health Workforce Research Group

Our Work

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska is dedicated to improving access to behavioral health care across the state of Nebraska by developing a skilled and passionate workforce.  The center's Behavioral Health Workforce Research Group conducts research studies to understand the retention and recruitment issues as well as workforce supply and demand for behavioral health providers. 

To learn more, email Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway.

Project Examples

• Behavioral Health Workforce Dashboard
• BHECN Legislative Reports
• Telehealth Report
• Barriers and Promoters of Direct Care Workers
• Digital Navigation Training

Peer-Reviewed Article Examples

• Adams E, Watanabe-Galloway S, Mogens BB, Grennan A, Obermeier Schneider E, Doyle M. The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska: A creative solution to a persistent behavioral health workforce shortage. Psychiatric Clinics. 2022 (June); 45(2): 259-270. DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2022.03.004
• Watanabe-Galloway S, Chasek T, Doyle M, Grennan A, Houfek J, Naveed Z, Schneider E. Provisional behavioral health licenses to full licenses: Case study in Nebraska. Journal of Rural Mental Health. 2022 (March); 46(3), 195-204. DOI: 10.1037/rmh0000197
• Watanabe-Galloway S, Chasek C, Yoder AM, Bell JE. Substance use disorders in farming population: Scoping review. Journal of Rural Health. 2021 (May). DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12575 
• Watanabe-Galloway S, Chen LW, Trout K, Palm D, Deras M, Naveed Z. Improving behavioral health workforce supply and needs estimates using active surveillance data and qualitative data. J Rural and Remote Health. 2019;19(2):4996. DOI: 10.22605/RRH4996
• Keeler H, Sjuts T, Niitsu K, Watanabe-Galloway S, Mackie PF, Liu H. Virtual mentorship network to address the rural shortage of mental health providers. Am J Prev Med. 2018;54(6):S290-S295. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.02.001