Professionals Ready to Integrate Care (PRI-Care): A Mental Health Training Collaborative

Introduction: Increasing demand for integrated care necessitates interprofessional training of mental and behavioral professionals. This study examines the effect of an interprofessional training program for social work and counseling trainees (PRI-Care) in 3 areas: interprofessional valuing and socialization, team skills, and professional development, including the interrelationship between these 3 areas. Method: A cross-sectional survey-based pre-post design was utilized across 4 cohorts of students participating in the training program from 2018 through 2021. Results: Among 111 students, interprofessional valuing and socialization, team skills, and professional development increased in pre- to post surveys. Older trainees had higher self-perceptions of interprofessional valuing and socialization. Further, higher levels of interprofessional valuing after training predicted higher self-perceived professional development. Discussion: Students entering work in mental and behavioral health benefited from the specialized interprofessional training. Public Significance Statement Interprofessional training programs designed to prepare mental healthcare providers to work in integrated care settings are increasing in demand, serving to address the need for improve access to mental healthcare in our communities. Outcomes of interprofessional trainings indicate a positive relationship between valuing of integrated healthcare, teamwork skills, and perceptions of professional development. Interprofessional training enables students to practice role communication, increasing perceived professional competence and collaboration, potentially contributing to improved clinical outcomes.