Path Forward Information

Path Forward is a coalition united to ensure all Americans have access to mental health and substance use care. Our members include: the American Psychiatric Association, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, NAMI, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers and Shatterproof. FOCUS We unify our partners’ voices and concentrate collective efforts on key priority reforms across all stakeholder groups. We are consistently and actively involved in ongoing dialogues with trade groups, accreditors, major insurers, and policymakers. We drive our results by reforming policies, scaling practices, and advocating for change at both national and local levels. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE Path Forward advocates for licensing and credentialing reforms, network adequacy standards, and guidelines that support stronger parity. We also promote workforce-friendly care models like integrated care, tele-behavioral health, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Across care models and settings, we advance the work of behavioral health support specialists who come from the communities they serve and inspire trust and hope in patients. INTEGRATED AND CHRONIC CARE MODELS • Collaborative Care Model: Bringing mental health and substance use treatment to the primary care visit through legislation like the COMPLETE Care Act (S. 931/H.R. 2509). • Coordinated Specialty Care: bringing early intervention for psychosis to the 100,000 people who suffer their first episode each year through legislation like the Early Minds Act (H.R. 7808). • Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs): supporting nationwide expansion of clinics that reach deep into their communities. MEASUREMENT-BASED CARE Using precision measurement tools to detect individual needs early—just like we do for cancer and heart disease—and tracking outcomes systematically to inform treatment choices and drive person-centered results.