UTHealth Houston has been approved by the UTHealth system and the state of Texas to open a new school to train behavioral healthcare workers.
The School of Behavioral Health Sciences was created to help combat the mental health workforce shortage in Texas, according to a March 23 news release. It plans to offer over 35 degrees or certificate programs for mental health professionals within the next decade.
"With a third of all state behavioral health hospital beds closed due to staffing shortages and 84% of Texas counties lacking a single practicing child psychiatrist, the need for this school to produce that needed workforce for the state is quite apparent," John Zerwas, MD, executive vice chancellor of The University of Texas System, said in the release.
UTHealth Houston is seeking $10.5 million from the state to fund the launch of the school, recruit staff and keep tuition low for students.