APA Services recently endorsed the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (H.R. 7108) and the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act (H.R. 7489), two key pieces of legislation that would increase access to mental health services in schools.
Date created: March 5, 2024 2 min readAmerican Psychological Association. (2024, March 5). Supporting the expansion of mental health services in schools. https://www.apaservices.org/advocacy/news/mental-health-services-schools
APA Services has endorsed two House bills that aim to increase access to mental health services in schools by permanently authorizing funding for two school-based mental health grants, the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program. The association has long supported these grant programs and advocated for the $1 billion they received through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022.
In January 2024, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), and Jahana Hayes (D-Connecticut) introduced the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (H.R. 7108), which would permanently authorize funding for SBMH. This program aims to “increase the number of school-based mental health professionals by supporting high-need local educational agencies in recruiting, hiring, retaining, and diversifying school-based mental health services providers to expand access to school-based mental health services for students enrolled in elementary schools and secondary schools served by such agencies.”
In a press release from DeLauro’s office, APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, stated: “The American Psychological Association supports the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act, which would help under-resourced schools hire and retain more school-based mental health providers, including psychologists. Congresswoman DeLauro has long been a champion for the health, well-being and education of children, and this legislation continues those career-long efforts. We look forward to working with her to pass this bill into law.”
In February 2024, Representatives Judy Chu (D-California) and Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) introduced the bipartisan Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act (H.R. 7489), which would permanently authorize funding for MHSP. This program provides grants to support partnerships between higher education institutions and local education agencies to facilitate the education, training, and employment of school based mental health providers.
“The American Psychological Association applauds Congresswoman Chu for introducing this important legislation to address the longstanding shortages of mental health professionals, including school-psychologists, that persist in nearly every state,” said Evans in a press release from Chu’s office. “As the mental health needs of our nation’s youth continue to grow, school-based mental health services are critical to meeting the moment, including through a focus on prevention and early intervention. By ensuring a strong school-based mental health workforce is ready to address the well-being of all students, the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act will be key to these efforts.”
