North County San Diego Behavioral & Mental Health Collaborative

Dear Colleagues and Friends, 

As the new year begins, enveloped in a spirit of gratitude and reflection, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to each one of you who attended the Behavioral and Mental Health Workforce Development Symposium held on October 4, 2023.

Your presence and active engagement were pivotal in transforming this event into a resounding success. With over 200 attendees, the symposium included a diverse and vibrant mix of ideas and perspectives, all geared towards addressing the significant workforce development challenges within the behavioral and mental health sector. Witnessing so many leaders and experts in one room sharing their insights and experiences was truly inspiring. 

The symposium, marked by keynote speeches, expert panels, and comprehensive presentations, has laid a solid foundation for future initiatives. Dr. Luke Bergmann’s insightful overview of the industry's current state, Dr. G. Mishra's innovative strategies for Federally Qualified Health Centers, and the insightful discussions led by Anthony White, Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, and Dr. Gene Ma, among others, were both informative and instrumental in shaping our path forward. 

Building on this momentum, we are excited to share with you that we are developing a framework tailored to the needs of our San Diego region, creating actionable items that will yield tangible results. Our goal is to catalyze a strategic and unified approach toward the future of behavioral and mental health workforce development.

Based on the main themes surfaced at the symposium, the planning committee is working to bring together attendees and interested members of the community for action planning in the areas of government advocacy, education and data sharing.  

This new landing page has been launched to provide regular updates. Please check back periodically for more details.

As we welcome the new year, we will share more comprehensive information about these action teams. Your continued involvement and support will be invaluable in propelling this effort forward.  

Thank you once again for your dedication and commitment to this cause and our region. May the holiday season bring you rejuvenation, and we look forward to our continued collaboration in the coming year. 

Sincerely,

Ellen Neufeldt
President
California State University San Marcos

Tad Parzen
President & CEO
Burnham Center for Community Advancement

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COMING SOON -  Action Groups:

• Education
• Government Advocacy
• North County San Diego Behavioral & Mental Health Collaborative (NCBMHC) Dashboard