APA Member Dr. Chris Loftis alerted Education GRO staff to a survey conducted by Linda Juszczak, Deputy Director of the National Assembly on School-based Health Care, on school health clinics and underserved communities. Ms. Juszczak’s survey, funded by the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), found that approximately 1,700 school health clinics are designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and/or a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) and that 65% of them provide mental health services. Currently 181 school health clinics employ school psychologists, although it is not known whether they have masters or doctorates. Further, Ms. Juszcazk noted there is great interest in hiring psychologists to work in school health clinics to provide mental health services, and we are aware that there are many doctoral level school psychologists interested in participating in the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Armed with that information, Education GRO staff met with NHSC officials early in FY 2008 to urge them to allow school psychologists to be eligible for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Education GRO is expecting a decision from the NHSC on this matter by the summer. If the NHSC response is not favorable, Education GRO staff will seek legislative report language to correct the exclusion of doctoral level school psychologists.

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