U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) recently supported bipartisan legislation that seeks to increase the recruitment and retention of mental health services providers in schools by authorizing the U.S. Department of Education to partner with higher education institutions to help cover students’ costs at relevant school-based mental health graduate programs.
“Providing Hoosier students with access to mental health resources will help improve the safety, well-being, and academic success of our students,” Sen. Young said on May 16. “The Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act will both support the school-based mental health workforce and address the critical need for these professionals.”
Sen. Young is the lead original cosponsor of the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act, S. 1574, which he introduced on May 11 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to address the shortage of mental health providers in schools by covering up to the full cost of graduate programs for students attending eligible institutions of higher education, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“To ensure students have access to the care they need, we must ensure access to the mental health professionals in schools to meet kids where they are and assist students dealing with any challenges they may be facing,” said Sen. Shaheen. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a strong pipeline of mental health providers, leaving many kids and teenagers vulnerable and without the help they need.”
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are leading a companion version of S. 1574 in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to Sen. Young’s staff.
“Over 38 percent of America’s school students do not have adequate access to comprehensive mental health resources,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “As co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I am proud to introduce the Mental Health in Schools Excellence Act to ensure that students have access to the mental health services they need to flourish.”
The legislation has been endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists, the American School Counselor Association, the School Social Work Association of America, the American Counseling Association, and the American Psychological Association.