photo by: Ashley Hocking/Journal-World File Photo

This file photo from January 2018 shows a bench and mural at the second-floor entrance, where administrative offices and services for children and families are housed, at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, 200 Maine St.

Employees at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center are looking to unionize.

The workers, organizing to create Community Mental Health Workers United, have the goals of improving the quality of mental health care and addressing workplace issues, according to a press release from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 304.

The Bert Nash workers said in that press release that the Bert Nash administration required clinicians to “maintain large caseloads that are unrealistic,” which has caused burnout among workers and made it a “struggle to keep up” to provide quality services.

The union group said that as Bert Nash expanded to meet the increased demand in Lawrence for both mental health services and homelessness services, experience and feedback from staff “has often been disregarded.” During a City Commission meeting in July, Bert Nash representatives told the commission its outreach team worked with a total of 587 households in 2023 — over 100 more clients than the year before.

Additionally, the release claims that staff are expected to perform interventions without adequate training, which adds unnecessary risk for both the patients and the caregivers as the employees said they are working “beyond their expertise.”

The group is seeking to negotiate with the administration on improved working conditions, including regular raises, manageable caseloads, workplace safety and other issues. The union believes this will help improve mental health care in the community.

“By allowing clinicians to carry clinically recommended caseloads, and providers to negotiate a fair and livable wage, this ensures continuity in your mental health care,” the press release said.

Jeff Burkhead, the communications manager for Bert Nash, said in an emailed response to the Journal-World that the center supports efforts that align with the “best interests of our staff and the people we serve” and is open to available strategies to enhance the work environment.

“Open communication remains a priority for our organization, and we are continually engaged in gathering more information to make informed decisions,” Burkhead said.

The center did not immediately make it clear if it would recognize the union immediately.