Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Pathways - The Arkansas Rural Opioid Use Team Education Pathways (AROUTE-P) initiative will address critical behavioral health (BH) workforce shortages in six rural North Arkansas counties—Carroll, Boone, Newton, Marion, Searcy, and Baxter—by building a sustainable, youth-driven pipeline into BH careers. These counties are designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs) and face persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining BH professionals. Local youth experience disproportionately high rates of mental health and substance use challenges. At the same time, they face limited access to age-appropriate behavioral health services. Compounding the need are high rates of poverty, trauma exposure, and educational barriers that make postsecondary training in BH fields difficult to access without targeted support. Led by the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network (ABHIN), AROUTE-P will engage middle and high school students through early exposure opportunities, trauma-informed peer leadership programming, and structured education-to-career pathways that culminate in workforce training, recruitment, and retention. The program will pursue three primary goals: 1) establish structured programs to introduce rural youth to BH careers and support their entry into formal training; 2) empower youth to lead and implement peer-driven BH initiatives that reduce stigma and promote engagement; and 3) develop multi-sectoral partnerships and funding strategies to ensure long-term sustainability of the BH workforce pipeline post-federal funding. Serving a population of approximately 15,000 youth, AROUTE-P aims to engage at least 500 students annually in career exposure activities and support 40 students per year in entering BH career pathways. The initiative includes robust supports to reduce financial and logistical barriers, including transportation stipends, childcare assistance, and direct help with applications and financial aid. By leveraging strong partnerships with schools, colleges, healthcare systems, and community-based organizations, AROUTE-P will cultivate a “homegrown” BH workforce that is reflective of, and responsive to, the needs of rural North Arkansas.
