A Grassroots Approach to Addressing the MCH Workforce Crisis

Area of Science:

• Healthcare workforce development
• Neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Public health

Background:

• The developmental-behavioral healthcare field faces a projected workforce crisis due to retirements and burnout.
• Increased clinician mental health issues and burnout, exacerbated by COVID-19, add urgency.
• Traditional top-down recruitment strategies are insufficient to address the shortage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a grassroots strategy to support the developmental-behavioral healthcare workforce.
• To enhance the capacity of people with disabilities (PWD) within this field.
• To address workforce sustainability through alternative support mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the lived experiences of three fellows from the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program.
• Focusing on a "grassroots" approach rather than solely top-down initiatives.
• Examining the roles of entrepreneurship and self-determination.

Main Results:

• The study highlights a "grassroots" approach to bolster the healthcare workforce.
• It emphasizes increasing material wealth for people with disabilities through entrepreneurship.
• It advocates for enhancing self-determination via mentorship and institutional culture shifts.

Conclusions:

• A sustainable solution requires empowering people with disabilities.
• Entrepreneurship and self-determination are key components for workforce rebuilding.
• Integrating these grassroots strategies can help mitigate the projected workforce crisis.