Webinar - Unfinished Business: Examining Barriers to Obtaining Mental Health Licensure Among Minnesota Graduates
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Online via Zoom (a recording will be sent to all registered participants)
Summary: In February 2025, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health and Wilder Research published the Unfinished Business: Examining Barriers to Obtaining Mental Health Licensure Among Minnesota Graduates report. The study sought to understand the challenges that individuals face during the licensure process, including the reasons they may decide to not pursue licensure. Researchers surveyed and interviewed graduates of social work, counseling, and marriage and family programs in Minnesota to explore barriers they had experienced during the licensure process. This webinar will provide an overview of findings and recommendations from the study and empower participants to consider ways they can advocate to reduce barriers to support the mental health workforce in Minnesota.
Presenter Bios:
- Roy Kammer - Roy is the Interim Associate Dean of the College of Allied Health and Nursing at Minnesota State University, Mankato and holds an appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences teaching in the field of Alcohol and Drug Studies. Roy is an experienced addiction counselor educator and has served in various academic roles including faculty member, program coordinator, and dean. Roy is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Prevention Professional Reciprocal (CPPR), and National Certified Counselor (NCC). Roy is a long-term member of the Minnesota State Epidemiological Workgroup and has served on the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy since 2018. He has served on state and national workgroups to advance counselor credentialing and expand the use of technology-based clinical supervision. Roy is a past president of the International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education (INCASE) and is a past chair of the Board of Commissioners for the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC). Roy specializes in topics related to behavioral health workforce, credentialing, ethics and professionalism, and alcohol and drug policy in higher education.
- Kari Much - Kari is a Licensed Psychologist at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Counseling Center where she has practiced for the past 25 years. She has served as a clinical supervisor for doctoral and master’s students for over two decades and is a board approved supervisor with both the Minnesota Board of Psychology and the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. Kari has also served as a clinical supervisor for several applicants pursuing licensure in the State of Minnesota. She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, a master’s degree in counseling/counselor education, and bachelor’s degree in psychology.
- Melissa Serafin - Melissa is a Research Scientist at Wilder Research, an independent research unit of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Melissa has extensive experience in mental health research and evaluation, including assessing population needs, analyzing systems and policies, and identifying actionable solutions and areas for opportunity. She is particularly interested in strategies for expanding access to mental health care and strengthening the mental health workforce. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colorado College.
- Miamoua Vang -Mia is a Research Associate at Wilder Research, an independent research unit of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Mia has research experience on topics related to mental health, well-being, burnout, and racial and culturally responsive research. She is interested in finding ways to decrease barriers to mental health care and improving the pathway of mental and behavioral health careers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Cloud State University.
For questions contact: Elizabeth Harstad
