Action Alert! Support GPE Authorizing Bill [S. 811 & H.R. 2066]

Dear Colleagues,

For the very first time in the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program’s eight year history, legislation has been introduced in both legislative chambers to specifically authorize the GPE Program and create its own line in the federal budget. The GPE Program is the nation’s only federal program solely dedicated to psychology education and training. Since its inception, there have been 70 grants in 30 states for a total of almost $24 million.

The Senate Bill (S. 811) was introduced on April 2nd by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and the House Bill (H.R. 2066) was introduced on April 23rd by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Tim Murphy (R-PA). S. 811 and H.R. 2066 amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for a program for graduate education and training in psychology. The GPE program has been an exemplary model of training for integrated healthcare services, and since 2002 has provided quality, evidence-based and culturally appropriate mental and behavioral health care services to those most in need in rural and urban communities throughout our nation.

Responding is Quick & Easy: All you will need to do is send a prepared message to both your Senators and Representative. The message urges them to co-sponsor S. 811 [H.R.2066], the bill which will specifically authorize the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program. If you get a response and are asked for more information, just send me an email and I will follow-up with that Congressional office.

GPE CREATES NEW INTERNSHIPS: As you know, the GPE Program is a competitive grant program, which supports the interdisciplinary training of psychology graduate students, interns and postdoctoral residents with students from other health professions. New internship slots are created through the GPE Program. The focus of the training is on the provision of mental and behavioral health services to underserved persons (i.e., older adults, children, chronically ill persons, and victims of abuse or trauma, including veterans) in underserved urban and rural communities.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!