Exploring Careers in Children's Behavioral Health
Resources to help students and career-changers explore pathways to meaningful, rewarding careers in the children's behavioral health field.
Connecticut kids are waiting for you.
Like much of the country, Connecticut is experiencing a shortage of behavioral health professionals even as the needs of children and youth continue to grow. To ensure that all kids and families can access the care they need, when and where they need it, we need more caring, compassionate people like you to choose careers in behavioral health!
Start your journey
Why work in children's behavioral health?
Hear why this work matters from real clinicians currently working in Connecticut.
Career paths in children's behavioral health
Explore the wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles in the field, and what qualifications you need to get there.
Paying for your education
Resources on financial aid, tuition reimbursement, loan repayment, and other ways to finance education in the behavioral health field.
Training opportunities
Learn about free trainings and courses that can help you build knowledge and skills in children's behavioral health, wherever you are in your career.
Why work in children's behavioral health?
CHDI recently held a video contest inviting licensed behavioral health providers who currently work with children and youth in Connecticut to share why they chose to go into this field—and what keeps them going, even on the most challenging days. Here are some of their inspiring responses:
Career paths in children's behavioral health
Many different kinds of professionals provide behavioral health services to children, youth, and their families:
Clinical roles can assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. You may hear them referred to as therapists or counselors. These roles typically require a master's or doctoral degree and a professional license issued by the state(s) in which they practice. Licensed professionals must complete ongoing continuing education and adhere to certain professional standards in order to maintain licensure.
Non-clinical roles may provide a range of supportive services, such as care coordination, case management, peer support, education and outreach, and other work that complement clinical services. These roles typically do not require advanced degrees, and most do not require state licensure.
Clinical and non-clinical professionals each play critical roles in ensuring high-quality, effective, culturally appropriate care for kids and their families. They may work in a variety of settings, including community health centers and clinics, schools, social service agencies, juvenile justice, child welfare, shelters, hospitals, private practices, and many others.
Non-clinical career paths
Care Coordinators work with providers and families to ensure that services across providers are organized, non-duplicative, and responsive to client needs. They may use standardized assessments, help monitor medical compliance, and address barriers to treatment. While supportive, their role is not peer-based, and they typically do not provide mentorship or direct emotional support.
Case Managers are professionals who coordinate care and services across clinical, behavioral, and social support systems. They assess client needs, develop care plans, monitor progress, and connect individuals and families to additional supportive services such as housing, therapy, or benefits.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) act as frontline public health professionals who connect communities to health resources, provide education, and address social drivers of health (such as housing needs). Their work is often grounded in shared cultural, linguistic, or geographic ties, and they play a key role in improving access, equity, health knowledge, and preventive care. CHWs may share experiences related to community context or social drivers of health, but are not required to have lived experience with behavioral health recovery or parenting a child with a behavioral health condition.
The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) offers a Community Health Worker certification. To become a certified, you must be at least 16 years old, complete a DPH-approved CHW training program, complete at least 2,000 hours of paid or unpaid experience as a CHW, submit a professional reference from an employer with knowledge of your experience as a CHW, and submit a reference from a community member with knowledge of your CHW experience.Learn more on the DPH website
CT State Community Colleges offers a DPH-approved Community Health Worker Program that prepares students to meet the state's CHW certification requirements. Learn about CSCC's CHW Program
Peer Support Specialists (also known as recovery specialists, peer advocates, family support specialists, etc.) are distinguished by their use of lived experience as the foundation of their work. Peer roles are built on principles of mutuality, recovery, hope, empowerment, and non-clinical relationship-building.
Within the children's behavioral health system, youth peer support specialists are young adults (typically aged 18-29) with experience receiving mental health services as a child/adolescent who work directly with youth or other young adults. Family peer support specialists are parents/caregivers with experience navigating behavioral health or related systems for their children who provide support to other parents/caregivers.
Training, supervision, and role clarity are critical to effective peer support services.Learn more about the research behind peer support
Many of the non-clinical roles listed here do not have specific degree or certification requirements, and more organizations today value lived experience. In addition, many people earn degrees in unrelated fields and later transition to careers in behavioral health. However, having an educational/training background in a relevant field can be helpful. Some programs offered here in CT include:
Associate's (2-year) Degree Programs/Fields of Study to Consider
- Addiction Studies and Counseling
- Child, Family, and Community Studies
- Early Childhood Education/Studies
- Human Services
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Registered Nurse (Associates')
- Social Work Studies
Explore degree programs at CT State Community Colleges
Bachelor's (4-year) Degree Programs/Fields of Study to Consider
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Human Services
- Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Nursing (BSN)
- Psychology
UConn and CT State Universities—as well as many private colleges and universities in our state—offer these and other related degree programs.
Other Training + Certification Programs to Consider
- Community Health Worker Certificate
- Disability Specialist
- Health Career Pathway Certificate
- Human Services
Care Coordinators work with providers and families to ensure that services across providers are organized, non-duplicative, and responsive to client needs. They may use standardized assessments, help monitor medical compliance, and address barriers to treatment. While supportive, their role is not peer-based, and they typically do not provide mentorship or direct emotional support.
Case Managers are professionals who coordinate care and services across clinical, behavioral, and social support systems. They assess client needs, develop care plans, monitor progress, and connect individuals and families to additional supportive services such as housing, therapy, or benefits.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) act as frontline public health professionals who connect communities to health resources, provide education, and address social drivers of health (such as housing needs). Their work is often grounded in shared cultural, linguistic, or geographic ties, and they play a key role in improving access, equity, health knowledge, and preventive care. CHWs may share experiences related to community context or social drivers of health, but are not required to have lived experience with behavioral health recovery or parenting a child with a behavioral health condition.
The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) offers a Community Health Worker certification. To become a certified, you must be at least 16 years old, complete a DPH-approved CHW training program, complete at least 2,000 hours of paid or unpaid experience as a CHW, submit a professional reference from an employer with knowledge of your experience as a CHW, and submit a reference from a community member with knowledge of your CHW experience.Learn more on the DPH website
CT State Community Colleges offers a DPH-approved Community Health Worker Program that prepares students to meet the state's CHW certification requirements. Learn about CSCC's CHW Program
Peer Support Specialists (also known as recovery specialists, peer advocates, family support specialists, etc.) are distinguished by their use of lived experience as the foundation of their work. Peer roles are built on principles of mutuality, recovery, hope, empowerment, and non-clinical relationship-building.
Within the children's behavioral health system, youth peer support specialists are young adults (typically aged 18-29) with experience receiving mental health services as a child/adolescent who work directly with youth or other young adults. Family peer support specialists are parents/caregivers with experience navigating behavioral health or related systems for their children who provide support to other parents/caregivers.
Training, supervision, and role clarity are critical to effective peer support services.Learn more about the research behind peer support
Many of the non-clinical roles listed here do not have specific degree or certification requirements, and more organizations today value lived experience. In addition, many people earn degrees in unrelated fields and later transition to careers in behavioral health. However, having an educational/training background in a relevant field can be helpful. Some programs offered here in CT include:
Associate's (2-year) Degree Programs/Fields of Study to Consider
- Addiction Studies and Counseling
- Child, Family, and Community Studies
- Early Childhood Education/Studies
- Human Services
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Registered Nurse (Associates')
- Social Work Studies
Explore degree programs at CT State Community Colleges
Bachelor's (4-year) Degree Programs/Fields of Study to Consider
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Human Services
- Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Nursing (BSN)
- Psychology
UConn and CT State Universities—as well as many private colleges and universities in our state—offer these and other related degree programs.
Other Training + Certification Programs to Consider
- Community Health Worker Certificate
- Disability Specialist
- Health Career Pathway Certificate
- Human Services
Clinical career paths
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs or LMSWs in CT) are master’s level-trained clinicians who focus on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and other behavioral disturbances. Clinical social workers can work in a variety of human services settings, including community-based mental health clinics, private practices, hospitals, primary care, state and local agencies, and many others. Individual, group and family therapy are common treatment modalities, and many social workers specialize in working with children and families. They are also experts at finding and coordinating supportive services and resources to meet client needs. There are two "levels" of professional clinical social workers in Connecticut:
Licensed Master’s level Social Workers (LMSWs) can provide counseling, case management and support services in a variety of settings. When providing clinical treatment, they must do so under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) have completed a certain number of hours of additional clinical training under LCSW supervision, passed a state licensure exam, and must complete ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure. LCSWs can practice independently (without supervision) and can assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of behavioral and mental health conditions, but they cannot prescribe medication.
The state Department of Education requires an additional School Social Worker certification for Clinical Social Workers who want to work in schools. Learn about becoming a school social worker in CT here.
Types of Social Work Degrees (from NASW)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are clinicians that have master’s degrees and specific training working with families, couples, and/or children. LMFTs approach their work by looking at family systems and how they work. They may work in community-based clinics, hospitals, private practice, and other settings. LMFTs typically complete two years of graduate education and are eligible for licensure in Connecticut after two years of a supervised internship and ongoing professional development.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are clinicians who hold master’s degrees (or higher) in counseling or a related field and have completed at least 3,000 hours (~2 years) of post-graduate supervised clinical experience working with adults, families or children. They must also pass a state or national licensure or certification exam. LPCs may work in community-based clinics or agencies, private practice, schools, hospitals, and other settings.
Counseling graduate degree programs offered in Connecticut include:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Clinical Professional Counseling
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Clinical Psychology
- School Counseling
- 6th Year Certificates in Counseling (for those holding master's degrees in other fields)
View Accredited Counseling Programs in CT
State of CT LPC Licensing Requirements (CT DPH)
Professional counselors who want to work in schools must also obtain a School Counselor certification from the CT State Department of Education. Learn more about becoming a School Counselor here.
Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), also known as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, are registered nurses (RNs) with post-graduate level degrees (typically a Master of Science in Nursing) and advanced clinical education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice. In addition to the core nursing functions performed by RNs, APRNs are also qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals or families with psychiatric/mental health problems. Unlike most other kinds of behavioral health clinicians (with the exception of psychiatrists), APRNs can prescribe medication. APRNs can also earn doctoral degrees (PhD, DNSc, and EdD).
Psychiatric APRNs work in hospitals, private practices, community-based clinics and agencies, primary care, schools, community health centers, and other settings.
Many of Connecticut's public universities and colleges offer advanced practice nursing programs; some offer pathways for students with bachelor's degrees in other fields to earn BSNs and MSNs on an accelerated timeline.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have completed medical school followed by residency training and fellowships to specialize in psychiatry. Psychiatrists must pass a state licensing exam. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have completed more specialized training (usually in the form of a fellowship) in working with children. It takes an average of 8-10 years to become a psychiatrist after completing a bachelor's degree.
Psychiatrists can evaluate, assess, diagnose, and treat mental/behavioral health conditions. They can provide psychotherapy and can also prescribe and monitor medication. The ability to conduct medical evaluations and prescribe medication are two important differences that set psychiatrists apart from most other mental health professionals.
Because there are not many child psychiatrists in CT or throughout the United States, they often work as part of a team or are asked to be involved when there are more serious psychiatric concerns or a need for medication.
Learn more from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychologists are doctoral-level, trained behavioral health specialists with expertise in providing psychotherapy, conducting assessments (including psychological testing), evaluation, diagnosis, and research. They hold doctoral degrees (PhD or PsyD) from an American Psychological Association (APA)-approved program. Often, psychology doctoral programs offer specializations in focus areas, such as child and adolescent psychology or school psychology.
To become licensed, clinical psychologists must complete supervised clinical work (~1 year or ~1,800 hours, or 2 years of licensed work experience) and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) exam.
Psychologists are uniquely equipped with both extensive scientific knowledge and advanced training in assessment and treatment, but do not prescribe medication. They fulfill many different roles, from direct service like counseling and case management to systems-level work like training, education, and research. Work environments vary and can include hospitals, private practice, schools, community agencies, and more.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs or LMSWs in CT) are master’s level-trained clinicians who focus on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and other behavioral disturbances. Clinical social workers can work in a variety of human services settings, including community-based mental health clinics, private practices, hospitals, primary care, state and local agencies, and many others. Individual, group and family therapy are common treatment modalities, and many social workers specialize in working with children and families. They are also experts at finding and coordinating supportive services and resources to meet client needs. There are two "levels" of professional clinical social workers in Connecticut:
Licensed Master’s level Social Workers (LMSWs) can provide counseling, case management and support services in a variety of settings. When providing clinical treatment, they must do so under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) have completed a certain number of hours of additional clinical training under LCSW supervision, passed a state licensure exam, and must complete ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure. LCSWs can practice independently (without supervision) and can assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of behavioral and mental health conditions, but they cannot prescribe medication.
The state Department of Education requires an additional School Social Worker certification for Clinical Social Workers who want to work in schools. Learn about becoming a school social worker in CT here.
Types of Social Work Degrees (from NASW)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are clinicians that have master’s degrees and specific training working with families, couples, and/or children. LMFTs approach their work by looking at family systems and how they work. They may work in community-based clinics, hospitals, private practice, and other settings. LMFTs typically complete two years of graduate education and are eligible for licensure in Connecticut after two years of a supervised internship and ongoing professional development.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are clinicians who hold master’s degrees (or higher) in counseling or a related field and have completed at least 3,000 hours (~2 years) of post-graduate supervised clinical experience working with adults, families or children. They must also pass a state or national licensure or certification exam. LPCs may work in community-based clinics or agencies, private practice, schools, hospitals, and other settings.
Counseling graduate degree programs offered in Connecticut include:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Clinical Professional Counseling
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Clinical Psychology
- School Counseling
- 6th Year Certificates in Counseling (for those holding master's degrees in other fields)
View Accredited Counseling Programs in CT
State of CT LPC Licensing Requirements (CT DPH)
Professional counselors who want to work in schools must also obtain a School Counselor certification from the CT State Department of Education. Learn more about becoming a School Counselor here.
Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), also known as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, are registered nurses (RNs) with post-graduate level degrees (typically a Master of Science in Nursing) and advanced clinical education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice. In addition to the core nursing functions performed by RNs, APRNs are also qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals or families with psychiatric/mental health problems. Unlike most other kinds of behavioral health clinicians (with the exception of psychiatrists), APRNs can prescribe medication. APRNs can also earn doctoral degrees (PhD, DNSc, and EdD).
Psychiatric APRNs work in hospitals, private practices, community-based clinics and agencies, primary care, schools, community health centers, and other settings.
Many of Connecticut's public universities and colleges offer advanced practice nursing programs; some offer pathways for students with bachelor's degrees in other fields to earn BSNs and MSNs on an accelerated timeline.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have completed medical school followed by residency training and fellowships to specialize in psychiatry. Psychiatrists must pass a state licensing exam. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have completed more specialized training (usually in the form of a fellowship) in working with children. It takes an average of 8-10 years to become a psychiatrist after completing a bachelor's degree.
Psychiatrists can evaluate, assess, diagnose, and treat mental/behavioral health conditions. They can provide psychotherapy and can also prescribe and monitor medication. The ability to conduct medical evaluations and prescribe medication are two important differences that set psychiatrists apart from most other mental health professionals.
Because there are not many child psychiatrists in CT or throughout the United States, they often work as part of a team or are asked to be involved when there are more serious psychiatric concerns or a need for medication.
Learn more from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychologists are doctoral-level, trained behavioral health specialists with expertise in providing psychotherapy, conducting assessments (including psychological testing), evaluation, diagnosis, and research. They hold doctoral degrees (PhD or PsyD) from an American Psychological Association (APA)-approved program. Often, psychology doctoral programs offer specializations in focus areas, such as child and adolescent psychology or school psychology.
To become licensed, clinical psychologists must complete supervised clinical work (~1 year or ~1,800 hours, or 2 years of licensed work experience) and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) exam.
Psychologists are uniquely equipped with both extensive scientific knowledge and advanced training in assessment and treatment, but do not prescribe medication. They fulfill many different roles, from direct service like counseling and case management to systems-level work like training, education, and research. Work environments vary and can include hospitals, private practice, schools, community agencies, and more.
Paying for your Education
Financial barriers, especially the costs associated with pursuing a clinical career, can be overwhelming. As federal student loan programs continue to change—new loan repayment options, reduced borrowing limits, and limited loan forgiveness eligibility—they may not be the most viable option for all students. Thankfully, there are scholarships, loans, and repayment options available from other federal agencies, professional organizations, universities, and community organizations intended to support individuals pursuing careers in healthcare.
Federally funded scholarships and loan programs
Health Resources & Services Administration Health Workforce Programs
SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program
Scholarships and fellowships from professional organizations
National Association of Social Workers Foundation Scholarships
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarships & Financial Aid
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Diversity Award for Emerging Leaders
National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation Scholarships and Fellowships
American Psychological Association Grants, Scholarships, and Awards
Connecticut-based scholarships
UConn Behavioral Health Scholars Program
Additionally, nonprofits and agencies in Connecticut, such as Laurel House, Bridges Healthcare, TriCircle, and more, often provide smaller, annual scholarships intended to bolster the behavioral health workforce. General scholarships are often available annually from Connecticut's community foundations. Click here for a list of community foundations serving Connecticut.
Training opportunities
Looking for ways to explore behavioral health careers and build your knowledge and skills before choosing your path? The trainings below are open to anyone interested in learning how to support the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and others in your life:
Intro to Wraparound
Free online course from CHDI's Kids Mental Health Training on the Wraparound model of care coordination.
Mental Health First Aid
Community Health Resources (CHR) offers a range of Mental Health First Aid courses for anyone 18 and over.