Study by UT Social Work Created for State of Texas & THECB
The 2024 Texas Social Work Workforce Study was released by UT Social Work in October 2024, following a request for data and recommendations on the industry by the State of Texas and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
A deficit of social workers and increasing needs
The results revealed a significant deficit in the current social work workforce in Texas and projects the most severe shortages in 2030, particularly in rural areas. In fact, 97% of counties in Texas have been designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas and an additional 1% have partial designations.
While the systematic literature review conducted by the study authors revealed gaps in data due to the lack of a national system for collecting data on social workers, the population data analysis did demonstrate a widening gap between the available number of practitioners and the demand for behavioral health services across Texas.
Recommendations and strategy
The report concludes with several strategies to improve education and work incentives as well as recommendations to mitigate rural behavioral health workforce needs. The recommendations include as educational loan repayment programs, pipeline programs and partnerships. The report also advocates joining the Social Work Licensure Compact, designed to optimize access to licensed social workers in rural and other underserved areas.
Increasing behavioral health conditions in U.S. populations and the larger health implications and increased mortality rates that often accompany those conditions, underscore the importance of social workers and programs to improve mental and behavioral health across the state.