Maine’s mental health worker shortage demands a response. As of this February, 8,913 clients were waiting for mental health counseling in the state. The average wait — 32 weeks — is more than enough time for a mild depressive episode to become a full-blown crisis.

Addressing the crisis requires creative solutions that will have immediate and lasting impacts. The Social Work Licensure Compact is a prime example of the forward-thinking fixes that can change the narrative in Maine. The compact, which was signed by Gov. Mills in April and is expected to go into effect this summer, will increase the continuity and quality of mental health care while removing unnecessary work from social workers’ plates.

Continuity of care matters in mental and behavioral health. Building trust with a client is a prerequisite to a productive working relationship, but it takes considerable time and effort. Previously, social workers could either spend months obtaining a license for a different state or simply end the relationship altogether. Amidst a nationwide shortage, that created a choice between spending precious time on administrative work rather than treatment or leaving a client to sit on another practitioner’s waitlist for months or years. Now the compact allows social workers to seamlessly continue treating clients even if they relocate. Eliminating unnecessary red tape frees social workers and their clients to continue working together towards a healthier future.

The ability to access out-of-state social workers allows clients to seek out specialized care. For example, a Maine resident could benefit from working with a social worker in New Hampshire who focuses on autism or speaks another language. With the new multistate license, they can now work with social workers from any state that is a member of the compact. The compact amplifies the impact of the nation’s existing social worker base by making it easier for practitioners to work with those who need them most, regardless of their location.

The Social Work Licensure Compact exemplifies the type of solution Maine needs most. Multistate licenses aren’t a new concept, but implementing them with social work is a breakthrough that will help Maine care for its vulnerable populations.

Still, social work is at a pivotal point in Maine. Forty percent of responding individual providers are more than 60 years old; 45% of that number plan to retire in the next 5-10 years. The state is only meeting 13.9% of its mental health care needs, according to one study. Fixing the social work shortage requires a long-term commitment to prioritizing the state’s wellbeing.

Building the talent pipeline is a must for ensuring long-term stability in the field. Currently, the financial strain of earning a Master of Social Work coupled with the low pay makes it an unappealing career option for many. Relieving that pressure through paid internships, state-funded scholarships and loan forgiveness programs will make it possible for new social workers to enter the workforce.

Maine has demonstrated its desire to provide resources that will protect and care for its vulnerable populations. The Social Work Licensure Compact will move the needle. The commitment cannot end here, however. Maine policymakers must continue to consider solutions that, while novel now, could become the foundation for a robust mental health care network that ensures no one is left behind.