4C Health implements market-leading wage increase for licensed Indiana therapists

4c-health-implements-market-leading-wage-increase-for-licensed-indiana-therapists

4C Health is promoting its efforts in industry and market-leading wages for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists under their 4-day / 32-hour work week model.

Under the new wage model, a fully licensed Indiana therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT) can earn between $75,000-$90,000 annually for just 4 days/32 hours of work each week. 4C Health is approaching two years as a 4-day work week employer and is showing no signs of slowing. A 4-day/32-hour work week employer pays their staff 100% of 40 hour wage for just 32 hours of work per week.

“This is about getting earnings for a professional license where it needs to be and getting there within a 32-hour work week model. It is the intersection of valuing licensed professional care and supporting well-being simultaneously. This is not just to the benefit of our 4C Health workforce but spurs others to consider making the same move. It is trail-blazing for the local workforce, workforce development for the state, and licensed clinical therapist industry,” per Carrie Cadwell, CEO of 4CHealth

According to Jason Cadwell, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative officer of 4C Health, “Like all healthcare nonprofits, we are facing flat, outdated, and unsustainable payor reimbursements, in addition to delays in license obtainment, while scrambling to outmaneuver shortages of licensed healthcare providers in the State especially in rural markets. We knew we had to stand out, between 4DWW coupled with a “lean” and minimalistic business model, and clinic/payor practice models, we took our waste savings and added it back to our bottom line which in turn meant staff wage and benefitinvestment while keeping it as budget neutral as possible.”

Letecia Timmel, LCSW, Senior Outpatient Therapist had this to say, “At 4C Health, I have always felt valued as an employee. This most recent change in therapist wages is further validation of the knowledge, education, and experience that I have worked hard to bring to the table for those I serve. It is often joked about that community mental health is not where you go to make money, and while that may still ring true, 4C Health is breaking through some of those barriers that have previously existed and ensuring that we are compensated for the work we do. The wage increase for licensed individuals in combination with a 4 Day Work Week is an absolute game changer in the goal to make sure we are taking care of those who are taking care of others.”

Nicole Hiatt-Drang, Chief Clinical Officer expanded on that, “The implications of this change are not only exciting for licensed therapists who will be joining our agency, but it also reinforces the appreciation and acknowledgment of our licensed therapists (ranging in tenure from 2 years to 32 years) from a clinical standpoint. We understand that when clinicians feel valued and professional growth is supported, it results in reduced burnout and turnover rates, ultimately enhancing the continuity of care, advancing clinical skills, and improving outcomes.  As a result, this change will have a profound impact not only on licensed therapists but also on the individuals whom we serve.”

This move by 4C Health is a strong example of how clinical, quality, operations, and fiscal components of care and the organization can come togetherwithout undue hardshipand weave a golden thread.4C Health plans to continue this and conduct center-wide wage assessments of both direct and support positions over this next fiscal year. To date, new wage scales have been for Registered Nurse, Medical Assistants, Billing support staff, and now fully licensed therapists.