by Guest Author | Oct 4, 2024 | Events, News, Playbook

Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Hannah L. Maxey, Director of the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy, has been recognized by Indiana University’s Department of Family Medicine in the IU School of Medicine with a faculty award for her “Outstanding Commitment to Community Engagement and Service.” This prestigious honor, made even more significant by her nomination from colleagues and fellow faculty members, highlights Dr. Maxey’s exceptional contributions to the field of health workforce research in policy, both at home in Indiana and beyond.
Dr. Maxey’s recognition stems in part from her pivotal role in spearheading the recent “Playbook for Enhancing Indiana’s Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce,” a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing critical workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health across Indiana. This strategic roadmap, developed under Dr. Maxey’s leadership, brings together insights from academic institutions, policymakers, and healthcare providers to create actionable recommendations for strengthening Indiana’s mental and behavioral health workforce pipeline. The Playbook, rooted in extensive research and data-driven insights conducted by the Bowen Center, identifies key challenges and opportunities within the workforce pipeline.
Dr. Maxey’s work exemplifies the Bowen Center’s dedication to community-focused research and policy development. Her efforts are poised to make a significant difference in addressing Indiana’s mental health workforce challenges, with the ultimate goal of improving access to mental and behavioral health services for Hoosiers across the state.
We congratulate Dr. Maxey on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the continued positive impact of her work on Indiana’s healthcare landscape. Her leadership and dedication serve as an inspiration to us all and reinforce the importance of community engagement in driving meaningful change in public health.
Read more about the Playbook here.
by Guest Author | Oct 4, 2024 | News

Courtney Medlock, Bowen Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy
We’re excited to share that Courtney Medlock, MPH, Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy at the Bowen Center, has been featured in a recent Indiana University School of Medicine article for her outstanding community engagement.
The article, “Emerging Leaders program offers professional development, connection for School of Medicine staff,” showcases Courtney’s impressive achievements:
- Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Community Engagement Award from IU School of Medicine
- Leadership in collaborative projects with state agencies
- Valuable contributions during the Emerging Leaders program
- Strategies for effective team management during the pandemic
Courtney’s feature underscores the Bowen Center’s commitment to community-focused research and policy work. Her success exemplifies how our staff actively contributes to the well-being of our community.
Read the full article to learn more about Courtney’s impactful work and the Emerging Leaders program’s role in developing community-focused leaders.
by Guest Author | Sep 13, 2024 | Events, Presentations

Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey
Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey was the featured speaker at a CTS Talks event Sept. 12 at Christian Theological Seminary, giving a lecture on the intersection of faith communities and mental health. Her talk, titled “Mental Health: The Crisis and a Call to Action for People of Faith,” offered a timely discussion on the critical issue of mental health in America and its significant impact on individuals and communities of faith. Dr. Maxey explored how faith communities are uniquely positioned to respond to this crisis, challenging attendees to become ambassadors of love and hope.
CTS Talks is known for its TED Talk-style lectures that bring together intellectual curiosity and community reflection.
Related: Indiana’s mental health care is in crisis, with both real-life impacts on the everyday lives of millions of Hoosiers and for the long-term economic outlook of our state. Bowen has developed a mental health workforce Playbook that tackles that crisis head-on, offering concrete policy solutions to increase the number of mental health care workers in Indiana. To learn more about the Playbook and its strategies, visit The Playbook home page.
Watch her full presentation on CTS’s Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/kP1s5uIS7UU?si=X6oWGXlz6R-r52iF
Check out Dr. Maxey’s CTS presentation below:
by Guest Author | Sep 12, 2024 | News, Playbook

Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey
The Bowen Center’s Playbook for tackling Indiana’s mental health workforce crisis is featured in a new article from WFYI Indianapolis.
The opening paragraph of the story sums up the crisis in Indiana well:
Over 1 million adults in Indiana have a mental health condition, and 345,000 of adults who need mental health care don’t receive it. Statistics are also bleak for children. Suicide is the leading cause of death among adolescents in the state and 54% of Indiana kids aged 12–17 who have depression did not receive any care in the last year.
Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey sat down for an interview with WFYI reporters to go in-depth on our concrete plan for tackling the issue head-on.
“Not all of our workforce provides services to Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Hannah Maxey, lead author of the report and director of Indiana University’s Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy. “So even in a county where we might have seemingly enough professionals, that doesn’t mean that they’re available for the full population.”
Read the full article from WFYI here.
Indiana’s mental health care is in crisis, with both real-life impacts on the everyday lives of millions of Hoosiers and for the long-term economic outlook of our state. Our Playbook tackles that crisis head-on, offering concrete policy solutions to increase the number of mental health care workers in Indiana. Find out more here.
by Guest Author | Sep 10, 2024 | News, Playbook

Zoe Frantz, ICCMHC President and CEO
We are thrilled to announce that earlier this summer the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers (ICCMHC) officially committed to supporting Bowen’s Playbook for Enhancing Indiana’s Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce. This endorsement marks a significant step forward in addressing the critical workforce challenges facing the mental health sector in Indiana. The ICCMHC’s commitment, announced on July 15, 2024, aligns perfectly with our mission to enhance the quality and accessibility of mental health services across the state.
Zoe Frantz, President & CEO of Indiana Council, emphasized the importance of this commitment, stating the following:
“Our commitment to the Bowen Health Workforce Playbook is a significant step towards ensuring that Indiana’s mental health workforce is prepared to meet the growing and evolving needs of our communities.”
Read their full press release here.
We are confident that this collaboration will lead to meaningful improvements in the availability and quality of mental health services throughout Indiana.
Indiana’s mental health care is in crisis, with both real-life impacts on the everyday lives of millions of Hoosiers and for the long-term economic outlook of our state. Our Playbook tackles that crisis head-on, offering concrete policy solutions to increase the number of mental health care workers in Indiana. To learn more about the Playbook and its strategies, visit The Playbook home page.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient mental health workforce for Indiana.