Task force delivers recommendations on youth mental health workforce

Inside the room: At a roundtable discussion last week, the task force presented a landscape analysis of work already underway in Cuyahoga County and a set of seven recommendations.

• The overarching recommendation was to sustain the ongoing collaborative effort to address the challenge.

What they're saying: "What we have here between funders, providers and workforce leaders deserves permanent staffing to implement [the other recommendations]," Ohio Means Jobs executive director Michelle Rose told Axios.

• "These strategies are best addressed collectively."

Zoom in: Other individual recommendations drill down on ways to retain and expand the workforce, including through peer support, training, career awareness and policy advocacy at the state and federal levels.

• The ultimate goal is to put more money into the pockets of workers.

What we're watching: The task force is optimistic about being aligned with Gov. Mike DeWine's commitment to growing the state's behavioral health workforce.

The bottom line: "Rebuilding and empowering a workforce that has been underpaid and undervalued is a long-term proposition," Mayor Justin Bibb said in a statement.

• "These recommendations are a roadmap to advance this critical priority."