What happens when demand for behavioral health services skyrockets, but the workforce can’t keep up? The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) faced this challenge head-on by assembling a team of industry-leading experts to tackle training gaps, improve onboarding, and retain qualified professionals. The result? A groundbreaking partnership between the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Administration and MCCCD to reshape the future of behavioral health training.
“The Maricopa Community College District exemplifies the importance of educational partnerships in healthcare workforce development. Their collaborative efforts with AHCCCS and the Arizona health plans demonstrates commitment to creating robust, competency-driven educational pathways," said Sarah Hauck Mercy Care Workforce Development Administrator Senior Project Manager. "By developing targeted training programs that support the Arizona healthcare network of providers, MCCCD is supporting the Arizona health plans with strategically advancing healthcare education and addressing critical workforce needs across the state."
During the summer of 2024, South Mountain Community College (SMCC) Behavioral Health Science Faculty member Brielle Rawlings-Dube led the development of two robust microcredentials: Case Management Basics and Case Management Advanced Skills. These microcredentials equip learners with person-centered, strengths-based care techniques while aligning seamlessly with Arizona’s current behavioral health policies and practices.
“Microcredentials offered through the BHS program give SMCC students a competitive advantage by providing an opportunity to earn verification of competencies that are in demand by employers while earning their degree," said Veronica Hipolito, President of SMCC.
Once the curriculum was approved by AHCCCS as the official Case Management training, Instructor Rawlings-Dubé worked quickly to launch a pilot program, embedding the newly developed microcredentials into the BHS Case Management & Clinical Documentation Course (BHS 170).
“This was such a rewarding project,” said Brielle Rawlings-Dubé, LPC, BHS faculty member at SMCC. “After working in behavioral health for decades and experiencing the need for qualified providers, I’m grateful to be here and part of the solution. The partnership between healthcare, education, and the passion of our amazing BHS students gives me a lot of hope for the future. I also want to acknowledge Liahla Ferra. Her leadership and guidance through this project was critical. Her support paved the way for these trainings, and so many other opportunities for students. She is a champion.”
These programs prepare learners for immediate success in the workforce with industry-specific, hands-on training. Case Management Basics equips learners with foundational skills, including assessing, developing, monitoring, and evaluating treatment plans while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for person-centered care. Advanced Skills dives deeper, covering ethics, advocacy, and culture-specific approaches experienced case managers use to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
“This case management course actively challenged me to train my documentation skills, understand AHCCCS guidelines, and consider the strengths, needs, and culture of the people I hope to help in the field,” shared Devlin Klafke, a student in the program. “I also had access to an industry professional in my teacher, and she would often help clarify nuances within the scenarios we reviewed in class, which aided me in developing a more holistic understanding of case management. I deeply appreciate taking this course and believe it has bettered me as a professional in the field. Also, Brielle is awesome.”
These programs offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing learners to earn microcredentials, which validate the skills the student has mastered as part of a credited MCCCD course or as a standalone credential. This dual credentialing caters to diverse needs—learners can build on their education by enrolling in a course or focusing solely on acquiring the specific skills they or their employers seek. The state officially launched this training, making it accessible through the RELIAS platform and available to the Behavioral Health Network of Providers. Embedding the credential into MCCCD courses helps to ensure SMCC learners are work-ready, mastering skills determined by the industry to be in high demand.
By the close of Fall 2024, the outcomes were impressive. In just one semester, SMCC awarded 148 microcredentials in Case Management Basics and Case Management Advanced Skills, helping learners acquire practical skills to improve care quality and reduce onboarding time and costs for providers. SMCC is raising the bar for workforce readiness in behavioral health.
The innovation doesn’t stop there—MCCCD is transforming training accessibility with “open source” content that is freely available, distributable, and modifiable for Arizona’s colleges and health provider organizations. This initiative is paving the way for other community colleges across Arizona to institutionalize a similar approach. This approach ensures the programs are compatible with various learning management platforms, fostering a flexible, scalable, and relevant training model. By making these resources widely accessible, MCCCD is empowering the behavioral health workforce to stay adaptable and responsive to evolving industry needs.
Arizona has prioritized strengthening its Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce by creating accessible, open-source training programs. Through this innovative partnership, AHCCCS and MCCCD are setting the stage for a more skilled and efficient behavioral health workforce—one ready to meet the growing demands of communities across the state. With job-specific, competency-based content and a commitment to industry alignment, this initiative is more than just training—it’s a blueprint for the future of care.