HF4725

Purpose

• Establish the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center within the Department of Health.
• The center aims to grow the number and diversity of professionals, practitioners, and peers working in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and to ensure the workforce is culturally informed and responsive.

Key Provisions

• Create a new center in the Department of Health to lead workforce development for mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
• Require analysis of where licensed professionals are available, who is being served, and where gaps exist; use findings to prioritize needs by type, location, and demographics.
• Develop programs and resources to attract students to MH/SUD careers and support licensure pathways.
• Build tools for people considering mental health careers, including a website with licensure steps and a job board for employers.
• Track and report on the number of graduates from Minnesota programs that lead to MH/SUD careers, and assist colleges with licensure support.
• Identify barriers to licensure and make recommendations to reduce them.
• Form learning collaboratives with providers, schools, criminal justice agencies, and others to improve workforce development.
• Promote loan forgiveness programs, fund supervisors, and fund pathways to licensure to expand the workforce.
• Identify barriers to using loan forgiveness programs and propose remedies.
• Expand Medicaid graduate medical education to include other mental health professionals.
• Identify current internship and practicum sites and assess the need for more locations.
• Provide training for other health care professionals to improve knowledge about mental health and substance use disorders.
• Support training for integrated mental health and primary care in rural areas.
• Require annual reporting starting in 2027 on the center’s activities and progress in addressing workforce shortages.

Center Establishment and Structure

• The center is established as part of the Department of Health and operates under Minnesota law related to mental health and substance use disorder workforce development.
• It is tasked with coordinating efforts across education, clinical practice, and public-facing resources.

Activities and Programs (detailed)

• Analyze geographic and demographic availability of licensed MH/SUD professionals; identify gaps; prioritize needs.
• Create programs exposing high school and college students to MH/SUD careers.
• Create a website detailing licensure steps, certifications, and available resources.
• Create a job board for organizations seeking MH/SUD treatment staff.
• Track undergraduate and graduate students entering related programs and collaborate with colleges to support licensure.
• Identify barriers to licensure and propose solutions.
• Establish learning collaborations with providers, schools, criminal justice agencies, and others.
• Promote and expand loan forgiveness programs; provide funds for supervisors and licensure pathways.
• Identify barriers to using loan forgiveness programs and develop recommendations.
• Expand Medicaid graduate medical education to include other mental health professionals.
• Identify and evaluate internship and practicum sites and determine the need for more sites.
• Develop training for other health care professionals to increase knowledge about MH/SUDs.
• Support training for integrated mental health and primary care in rural areas.

Reporting and Oversight

• Beginning January 1, 2027, the commissioner of health must submit an annual report to the relevant legislative committees, detailing the center’s activities and progress in addressing the mental health and substance use disorder workforce shortage.

Funding and Fiscal

• An appropriation from the General Fund to the commissioner of health for the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center is authorized for fiscal year 2027 under Minnesota law (section 144.88). The text does not specify a dollar amount.

Significance and expected changes

• Creates a formal, centralized effort to build and diversify Minnesota’s mental health and substance use disorder workforce.
• Establishes data-driven planning, youth pipeline programs, and clearer licensure pathways.
• Adds resources for loan forgiveness, internships, and rural-area training to support workforce expansion.
• Requires ongoing reporting to track progress and inform policy discussions.

Relevant Terms - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center - Department of Health - Minnesota Statutes section 144.88 - workforce shortage - licensed professionals - licensure and certification - loan forgiveness programs - Medicaid graduate medical education - internships and practicums - rural areas - culturally informed and responsive workforce - high school and college exposure to MH/SUD careers - job board - learning collaborative partnerships - barriers to licensure - pathways to licensure - public reporting to legislative committees