Wellbeing Approach to Care
The Wellbeing Approach to Care is a practical framework for expanding access to culturally grounded, team-based mental health support in Washington State’s public behavioral health system. A key strategy within this approach is the integration of Wellbeing Specialists.
The Wellbeing Specialist: A Community-Based Workforce Model
Wellbeing Specialists are trained practitioners with lived and cultural experience who offer relational, therapeutic services that work alongside licensed clinical care. This role creates entry-level pathways into the behavioral health workforce, opening doors for individuals rooted in community insight and care.
Background
In 2022, a community and multisector coalition drawn from groups throughout Washington State came together to propose a solution to the state’s mental and behavioral health workforce crisis and lack of culturally responsive care. The solution, the Wellbeing Specialist, is a lay counselor role hired for cultural and/or lived expertise and trained in competencies focused on providing immediate and effective therapeutic support for clients. The coalition envisioned the Wellbeing Specialist being embedded in public behavioral health agencies in order to receive high quality training and supervision appropriate to their role with agencies being able to draw down Medicaid funding for their services. This model represents a scalable, systems-level innovation to strengthen access, equity, and sustainability in the public behavioral health system.
What is the Wellbeing Specialist?
A lay counselor role trained and vetted for foundational therapeutic competencies known to provide immediate support and relief for clients suffering from mental and behavioral health challenges: Reflective and active listening, skillful self-disclosure, client led skills coaching, mindfulness and self compassion, culturally resonant practices, group-based facilitation, arts and nature integration.
Delivers direct therapeutic support and wellness services to children, youth, and families through 1:1 care and group sessions.
Is supervised by and works alongside licensed clinicians as part of the clinical care team.
Why is this new Workforce Role Needed?
Washington State faces a severe shortage of mental health providers.
Workforce shortages disproportionately affect low‑income communities and communities of color highlighting the need to solve for access to care and quality of care simultaneously.
How is the wellbeing Specialist Funded?
The Wellbeing Specialist is not a new provider type licensed or registered by the state, it is a set of competencies layered on top of existing, billable workforce roles including Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor, Certified Peer Counselor, and Community Health Worker.
The Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor may currently provide the most flexibility in billing while being the least burdensome for agencies to train, making it an attractive option for new hires in the Wellbeing Specialist role.
Like all other workforce types, training and supervision is not currently covered by any sustainable fund and would need to be resourced outside of billable services.
Potential System Benefits
Leverages existing Medicaid‑billable provider pathways
Embeds lay counselors vetted for therapeutic competencies within the public behavioral health system
Expands workforce capacity without creating new licensing or billing structures
Wellbeing Approach to Care Blueprint
The Wellbeing Approach to Care Blueprint is a practical guide for integrating Wellbeing Specialists into Washington State’s public behavioral health system—expanding access to culturally grounded, team-based mental health support.
Developed through a multiyear, community-driven codesign process led by the CARE project, the Blueprint provides actionable guidance for behavioral health organizations, policymakers, and workforce planners. It covers:
Service design and team integration
Training and certification
Billing and sustainability strategies
Partnership development
This Blueprint serves as a foundational guide for piloting and scaling this innovative workforce model, aiming to strengthen equitable care and community wellbeing throughout Washington State.
Wellbeing Specialist Presentation
The CARE team unveiled the vision for Wellbeing Specialists at the 2025 Washington State Mental Health Summit.
Watch the recording to learn how the strategy came to life, explore the proposed implementation plan, and find out how you can help support this initiative across the state.
Contact the Project Team
Mariam Haris
Research Coordinator
mharis@uw.edu
Contact Mariam for questions on getting involved or project logistics.
Anna Duncan
Program & Policy Lead
aeduncan@uw.edu
Contact Anna for questions related to policy, funding, or partnerships.
Get Involved
If you would like to connect with our team and learn more about this project, please fill out the form below.
Project Background
The Wellbeing Approach to Care came out of the CARE for Kids & Families project, a multi-year initiative funded by the Washington state legislature focused on expanding access to culturally responsive care while centering community knowledge and lived experience. Visit the Care for Kids and Families page to learn more.