First Coast Connect: Addressing workforce shortages in behavioral health

Florida is facing a health care worker shortage, and those who specialize in behavioral health are no exception. According to the 2025 State of Mental Health in America Report, the Sunshine state ranks 43rd nationally in the availability of mental health workers, with a patient-to-provider ratio of 490 to 1. Factors such as burnout, educational debt and Florida’s rapidly growing population help drive the crises as it is estimated that the current number of providers meets only 24% of the state’s behavioral health needs. We talk to health care and education leaders actively addressing the shortages in Duval and a student who is about to launch her career in social work. Guests: Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO, LSF Health Systems Sara Brochu, assistant director of UNF MedNexus Chelsea Caudill, social work student, University of North Florida The real Richard Castle He’s the man behind the popular pen name “Richard Castle.” New York Times best-selling author Tom Straw spent years working in radio and television before taking a leap to writing crime novels. He began his career writing for television, including Night Court, where he earned nominations from the Writer’s Guild of America and Primetime Emmy Awards. Secretly writing under the name of the male lead in the hit-show “Castle,” Straw is the mind behind the "Nikki Heat" series, a crime-thriller spanning 10 novels. He’s the latest author to be featured in a yearly author series hosted by The University of North Florida’s English Department to honor the memory of a former writing instructor. We ask Straw about his latest spy thriller, hear what inspired his wide-ranging career and get a preview of what he’s working on now. The event is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at UNF’s John E. Mathews Jr. Computer Science Building. Guests: Tom Straw, screenwriter and New York Times best-selling author of the "Nikki Heat Series" Michael Wiley, author and English professor, UNF Mandarin Art Festival An Easter tradition spanning decades in Mandarin makes its return this weekend. The Mandarin Art Festival, organized by the Mandarin Community Club, features local artists and small businesses, vendors, a children’s art showcase and bake sale. The festival, founded in 1968 by Judge Ed Westberry and a group of local artists, is the longest running event of its kind in Northeast Florida. Organizers say the festival is a vital source of funding for the club’s preservation, education and beautification work in the Mandarin community. We ask the organizer and a featured artist about what to expect from this year’s event and ask about the importance of featuring and supporting local artists. The event is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Mandarin Community Club. Guests: Susie Scott, chair, Mandarin Art Festival Carolyn Veros, St. Augustine-based painter and featured artist, Mandarin Art Festival See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.