Mental health centers use CARES dollars for retention bonuses
“What we see with nurses, first responders, teachers, other mental health professionals, social workers, is that they’re just taken advantage of,” Shepard said. “They worked so hard. There aren’t enough people to really meet all the needs, so it’s been difficult. Having even a little money to say thank you is helpful.
Achieving the best outcomes for Ohioans with mental health and addiction issues “requires a behavioral health workforce that is supported in its ability to provide care successfully, and this funding is an opportunity to help retain those on the front lines of community behavioral health during this critical time. in times of need,” Lori Criss, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, said in a grant announcement.
Agencies have received grants of up to $50,000.
Not all agencies that applied received grants, which the state says is due to a random selection process and the availability of funds. Workers who receive bonuses through the program commit to working for at least one more year.
In December 2021, the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers released a report and survey that found:
- Over 98% of survey respondents said recruiting was very or somewhat difficult between August and October 2021.
- More than 88% said they had difficulty retaining their staff.
- About 77% reported higher turnover with many positions open for two to six months.
- Over 10% reported clinical and medical vacations lasting longer than one year.
Additionally, the group reported that demand for mental health services has increased.
“These guys have weathered the storms, been flexible, and always made the needs of customers and others a top priority,” said Amy Keller, owner of Butler County-based The Next Right Thing.
The Next Good Thing received $15,000.
Keller said no matter how deserving her staff of a bonus, she would have struggled to pay one without the CARES Act grant because their incomes have suffered during the pandemic.
For example, some clients missed appointments due to COVID exposure or illness, and others struggled with telehealth.
Kristin Gorman, a dual diagnosis therapist at The Next Right Thing, said she is paid based on the services she provides, which have been negatively affected by the pandemic. She said Premium supplemented her income during this difficult time.
Susanna Lozano, chief operating officer of Modern Psychiatry and Wellness in Butler County, said they had already lost staff due to the pandemic by the time the state paid out the bonus money. Counselors and therapists were hard to retain, and she said some lower-paid workers quit when unemployment benefits were higher.
“We lost some of the staff that we were going to lose before this grant,” she said.
The grant was split evenly among staff members, excluding some of the higher-paying positions like executive leadership.
“It was a nice surprise. It was a big blessing and it made people happy,” Lozano said.
