Understanding Behavioral Health Technicians Within the Military

Résumé du livre

Since as far back as World War II, behavioral health technicians (BHTs) have been used to increase the capacity of the military behavioral health workforce and ensure that service members who need behavioral health care have access to high-quality, efficient services. The demands that BHTs face have undoubtedly evolved alongside the changing needs of the military, but it is unclear whether this valuable component of the Military Health System (MHS) mental health care workforce is adequately prepared to fulfill these roles or whether the MHS is making the best use of BHTs' skills. This report provides preliminary insights on selection, training, roles, and responsibilities. Though BHT training is based on the expected roles and responsibilities of BHTs, there may be opportunities to better align the curriculum with the demands of BHTs in the field and the needs of the population they serve. In addition, findings suggest that BHTs may not consistently have the opportunity to apply the full extent of their clinical training, and there is a need to better understand how factors such as setting, supervisor preferences, and availability of ongoing training affect their roles. The recommendations presented provide preliminary suggestions on ways to optimize the training and roles of BHTs in the field, with the goal of ensuring that the MHS can continue meeting the need for high-quality mental health care among service members and their families.