Behavioral Health Springboard

What Behavioral Health Springboard does

Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS) is a workforce development and technical assistance program established in 1991 and housed within the UNC School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Originally named the Behavioral Healthcare Resource Program (BHRP) and rebranded in 2016, BHS delivers evidence-based training, continuing education, and technical assistance to North Carolina's behavioral health workforce, including licensed clinicians, school staff, youth-serving organizations, and state agency partners. Its portfolio spans seven core programs — NC Children's Behavioral Health, the Substance Use Addiction Specialist (SUAS) Program, NC Problem Gambling, NC Mental Health First Aid, NC Provider Training, Substance Use Disorders in Women, and the Tenancy Support Training Program — plus specialized initiatives such as the Rapid Response Team, Children with Complex Needs, and the NC System of Care collaboration.

BHS is organized into five PODs (Adult Behavioral Health, Children's Behavioral Health, Mental Health First Aid, Business Services & Operations, and an Online Training Team) with approximately 20 named staff. Training is delivered through multiple modalities including asynchronous e-learning courses built on Articulate Storyline and Articulate Rise, live virtual webinars, recorded webinars, and in-person training, all hosted on the BHS Learn platform (bhslearn.unc.edu). Content carries NBCC pre-approval status for continuing education credit. The technology stack is otherwise conventional — a WordPress-based CMS, a Fresh Desk support portal, and standard web development tooling — with no proprietary AI/ML systems observed.

The business model is grant- and contract-funded rather than commercial. BHS operates primarily under state contracts with the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) and the NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW), supplemented by federal grants (SAMHSA, GEER funds) and private foundation awards (Duke Endowment). Customer segments include NC state agencies (the primary anchor), K-12 schools (public, private, charter), licensed behavioral health providers, LME-MCOs/Tailored Plans, and youth-serving community organizations. Most programs are offered free to schools and youth-serving organizations; some continuing education courses carry a modest registration fee (refundable above $25). Three decades of accumulated state-contracted relationships and credentialed instructor networks form the basis of the program's competitive position.

Name

Behavioral Health Springboard

Legal name

UNC School of Social Work Behavioral Health Springboard

Website

https://bhs.unc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Behavioral Health Springboard is a UNC School of Social Work program providing evidence-based workforce development, technical assistance, and continuing education to North Carolina's behavioral health providers, schools, and youth-serving organizations under state contracts with NC DHHS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Workforce Development Training

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Support & Intervention Services (PBIS/Behavior Coaching) (EDAJALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Behavioral health workforce training
• Continuing education providers
• Mental health first aid
• Substance use training
• Technical assistance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contract Revenue: BHS was established in 1991 through a contract with the NC Department of Health and Human Services funded by SAMHSA grants. BHS continues as a project primarily funded by state government contracts with the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) and the NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW). Revenue is grant and appropriation-based rather than commercial.
2. Continuing Education Fees: Some BHS trainings carry a registration fee. Trainings with a fee over $25 are refundable if requested up to two weeks prior. Trainings with a fee of $25 or less are non-refundable. Many programs, including YMHFA and teen MHFA for schools and youth-serving organizations, are offered at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Behavioral Health Springboard delivers evidence-based workforce development and technical assistance for behavioral health professionals, school staff, and youth-serving organizations across North Carolina. Its portfolio spans continuing education for licensed clinicians, Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid for schools, ASAM criteria training, clinical supervision series, the SUAS academic program integrated with the UNC MSW, problem gambling provider training, and tenancy support training, delivered through asynchronous, synchronous virtual, and in-person modalities.

Product overview

Behavioral Health Springboard is a workforce development and technical assistance organization that provides evidence-based education and training programs for behavioral health professionals in North Carolina. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs organized under four PODS (Adult Behavioral Health, Children's Behavioral Health, Mental Health First Aid, and Business Services & Operations). Core programs include NC Children's Behavioral Health, SUAS (Substance Use Addiction Specialist Program), NC Problem Gambling, NC Mental Health First Aid, NC Provider Training, Substance Use Disorders in Women, and Tenancy Support Training Program. Training is delivered through multiple modalities including asynchronous e-learning courses (Articulate Storyline/Rise), live virtual webinars, virtual interactive training, and in-person trainings. The organization partners with the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services and the NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NC Children's Behavioral Health Program providing child-specific subject matter expertise to the NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being, covering Children with Complex Needs, Early Childhood Behavioral Health, Rapid Response Team coordination, School Behavioral Health, and System of Care initiatives for providers serving North Carolina children and families.
• Substance Use Addiction Specialist Program (SUAS) A research- and practice-based program of study in problematic substance use, substance addiction, and behavioral addiction that prepares social work professionals to work with clients who have co-occurring diagnoses; courses count toward UNC MSW credit hours.
• NC Problem Gambling Program Program offering free webinars through the Sure Bet Training Series and the NCPGP Provider Registry, educating NC behavioral health providers about risk factors, incidence rates, impact, and treatment strategies for problem gambling.
• NC Mental Health First Aid Program providing funding for implementing Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) trainings across North Carolina, including specialized asynchronous trainings on social-emotional learning and disability.
• NC Provider Training Program enhancing skills and knowledge of licensed clinicians through webinars, clinical supervision series, and asynchronous courses including ASAM training for level-of-care determination and treatment planning.
• Substance Use Disorders in Women Program including the NC Pregnancy and Opioid Exposure Project and the Work First/Child Protective Services Initiative, providing information, resources, and technical assistance regarding substance use disorders affecting women and families.
• Tenancy Support Training Program Two-part training series developed by the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and NC DMH/DD/SUS to assist providers in navigating areas that impact successful community integration and housing stability for individuals with behavioral health conditions.
• Training Modalities Service Service offering multiple training delivery formats including Articulate Storyline E-Learning Courses, Articulate Rise E-Learning Courses, recorded webinars, virtual webinars, virtual interactive training, and in-person training, each with defined development timelines and complexity levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of operation since 1991 providing behavioral health training in North Carolina
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NC Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016BHS's partnership with DCFW was solidified with the creation of the Division of Child and Family Well-Being. The CBH pod was developed to provide child-specific subject matter expertise to DCFW, and pod members are contractors with the Division. BHS provides workforce development services for providers serving children and families in North Carolina under this partnership. BHS holds a Duke Endowment grant specifically to implement DCFW initiatives.
• NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991BHS was established in 1991 through a contract with NC DHHS funded by SAMHSA. DMH/DD/SUS is BHS's longest-standing state partner, overseeing the formal partnership that was orchestrated by Dr. Julian Keith (Chief of the Substance Use Section at NC DHHS) and managed through liaison Flo Stein (Deputy Director). BHS continues to provide workforce development and technical assistance as a project of this division.
• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHS offers ASAM Criteria training (2013 edition) as part of its Provider Training Program. ASAM provides the training curriculum and criteria framework, while BHS delivers and administers the training to NC behavioral health professionals.
• Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tenancy Support Training Series was developed by TAC in conjunction with NC DMH/DD/SUS. BHS hosts and delivers this training series, which is designed to assist providers in navigating important areas that impact successful community integration for individuals with behavioral health conditions.
• Morneau ShepellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorneau Shepell works with the NC Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP), NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, and BHS to bring the Sure Bet Training Series to North Carolina.
• NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHS partners with DPI on the School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI), a state-level partnership co-led by BHS. This collaboration also includes support for Project AWARE/ACTIVATE, the School Mental Health Initiative, and YMHFA/tMHFA implementation across NC schools.
• NC Psychiatric Access Line (NC-PAL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNC-PAL is a Duke-based free consultation and education program helping school administrators, counselors, and community clinicians address behavioral health needs of children and adolescents. DCFW/BHS works closely with NC-PAL on school behavioral health programming, and NC-PAL participates in the Rapid Response Team.
• North Carolina State Collaborative for Children, Youth, and Families (NCCCYF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCCYF provides a forum for collaboration, advocacy, and action among families, public and private child and family serving agencies and community partners to improve outcomes for children, youth and families in North Carolina through a System of Care framework.
• LME-MCOs / Tailored Plans (Alliance Health, Partners Health Management, Trillium Health Resources, Vaya Health)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe four LME-MCOs (now called Tailored Plans) manage care for NC Medicaid beneficiaries receiving mental health, developmental disabilities, or substance use treatment services. They support local SOC development through SOC Coordinators, work with county DSS on CWCN services, and submit referrals to NC START and CWCN Assessment Clinics.
• Zero to ThreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero to Three is a national organization whose definition of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) is utilized by NC DCFW and NCIMHA. BHS supports IECMH professional development aligned with Zero to Three's framework and guiding principles.
• UNC Chapel Hill School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHS is a program of the UNC-CH School of Social Work. The organization provides academic integration through the SUAS (Substance Use and Addiction Specialist) program, where courses are counted as part of students' MSW credit hours. SUAS was established following enabling legislation making UNC one of the first schools to provide approved training for students pursuing licensure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM): Professional society that developed the ASAM Criteria training curriculum which BHS delivers to NC behavioral health providers. Provides the underlying framework and curriculum while BHS handles state-level delivery and administration.
• Center for Practice Innovations: State-funded training and technical assistance center at Columbia Psychiatry serving New York's behavioral health workforce. Operates a directly comparable model to BHS as a state-funded, university-affiliated behavioral health training infrastructure provider.
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC): Federally-funded center providing training and technical assistance on suicide prevention across the US. Comparable workforce development and TA mission serving behavioral health professionals and school staff, with similar grant-funded state-partnership delivery model.
• NC-PAL (NC Psychiatric Access Line): Duke-based psychiatric consultation and education program helping NC clinicians and school administrators address pediatric behavioral health needs. Closely parallel state-funded NC partnership model to BHS, frequently co-operating with BHS on school behavioral health programming.
• Mental Health First Aid USA: National organization that owns and licenses the Mental Health First Aid curriculum that BHS delivers statewide across North Carolina. Operates as the central coordinating body for MHFA training in the US; BHS functions as the NC state-level licensee and coordinator under the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Others

• Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC): National nonprofit that developed the Tenancy Support Training Series that BHS delivers to NC behavioral health providers. Functions as a curriculum and technical assistance partner, supplying content that BHS administers at the state level.
• Morneau Shepell (LifeWorks): Now operating as LifeWorks, partnered with BHS on the NC Problem Gambling Program's Sure Bet Training Series. Functions as a content and program delivery partner for BHS's problem gambling training initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: National membership organization that is the parent of Mental Health First Aid USA and provides broader mental health policy advocacy, training, and resources. Operates at national scale as the umbrella organization for MHFA, of which BHS is a state-level delivery partner.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW): National professional association providing continuing education, credentials, and chapter-level training for social workers nationwide. Overlaps with BHS's social work workforce development focus, with broader national reach and credentialing authority.

Emerging players

• Zero to Three: National organization whose Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) definition and framework BHS adopts for its Early Childhood Behavioral Health programming. Provides the national standards while BHS delivers state-level training aligned with these frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UNC_SSW
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/behavioral-health-springboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/bhs_uncssw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Behavioral Health Springboard