by Zachary Ammerman | Mar 13, 2025 | News, Policy, Reports
The Bowen Center’s newly released 2024 Annual Report showcases a year of significant achievements in health workforce research and policy. Highlights include completing the Playbook for Enhancing Indiana’s Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce, assessing Indiana’s EMS workforce, and finalizing a three-year direct care workforce project.
Under Dr. Hannah Maxey’s leadership, the Center has enhanced its data collection partnerships with state agencies while expanding its communication strategy to ensure research reaches decision-makers who need it most.
With a combination of funding from public and private sources, the Center produced 63 publications, delivered 22 presentations, and saw significant increases in website and social media engagement in 2024, solidifying its role as Indiana’s premier resource for health workforce planning.
The report also features testimonials from partners including Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Executive Director Lindsay Hyer, who emphasize the Center’s crucial role in transforming workforce data into evidence-based solutions for healthcare access challenges across the state.
Download the full report here or read it in full below:
by Zachary Ammerman | Jan 15, 2025 | News, Policy
Indiana’s Health Workforce Council is exploring an approach to strengthen rural health care training: a tax credit for health care providers who mentor students through clinical preceptorships. Bowen Center Director Dr. Hannah Maxey was recently quoted in IPB News discussing the possible tax credit program for health care mentors.
“It is critically important for states that are developing tax credit programs to clearly define the program, goals and metrics before and prior to developing it,” Maxey notes. Her research indicates these programs typically serve better as retention tools for existing clinical preceptors rather than recruiting new ones.
Want to learn more about Maxey’s insights on program design, retention impacts, and fiscal considerations? Read the full story at IPB News.
The Bowen Center recently published a policy brief on exactly this subject, read more here or in the brief below:
by Zachary Ammerman | 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 Zachary Ammerman | 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 Zachary Ammerman | 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 Zachary Ammerman | 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.
