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Our Work
Below please find resources, publications, and reports covering the work ABH has done in Massachusetts to help advocate for accessible, equitable behavioral health in our communities.
ABH Issue Brief: Kids Are Waiting - Children's Behavioral Health Services Crisis and Collapse
This brief provides a snapshot of the crisis in access to children’s home- and community-based behavioral health services. This brief is based on provider surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 by the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH). The brief includes information on the declining numbers of children served by ABH members, the increasing wait lists and wait times for services, the number of program closures, and deteriorating workforce levels.
ABH Issue Brief: Thirty-Four Days and Counting - Waits for SUD Treatment Lengthen Due to Workforce Crisis
A workforce crisis is causing significant access delays to substance use disorder treatment, at a time when overdose rates continue to rise. Staffing challenges make it more difficult for individuals to access the care they need, when they need it. This brief presents data on vacancies, wait times and treatment capacity based on a survey by ABH. Information from respondents from 2022 was supplemented and updated with publicly available data to give additional context to the current challenges in the substance use disorder treatment continuum.
ABH Issue Brief: Outpatient Mental Health Access and Workforce Crisis
This brief provides a snapshot of exacerbated longstanding workforce challenges in behavioral healthcare settings as of 2021, based on a survey by ABH. This survey was conducted between October and November 2021 and gathered information on current challenges in outpatient mental health treatment and the mental health workforce. The survey asked questions related to workforce recruitment and retention, vacancies, and access to outpatient mental health services.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice
The Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH) is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for our Board of Directors, our members, and their staff. Click below to find a compilation of ABH-driven information and resources documenting our efforts to challenge racism and discrimination in the behavioral healthcare system. This page will be updated as we continue to grow and evolve in this work.