Congress supports expanded training for the psychology workforce
The final omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes $8.9 million for the Graduate Psychology Education Program. That's a $1 million increase for the program, which supports interprofessional education and training of health service psychologists. Congress also boosted by $15 million the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Behavioral Health Educational and Workforce Training Program, which supports the training of behavioral health professionals needed to serve youth at risk for mental health disorders. Congress also directed SAMHSA to expand eligibility for future grant opportunities to psychology schools to support practicum training for psychology students in addition to internship programs.
Congress considers bill to support graduate students
During APA's 2015 Education Leadership Conference, attendees heard from policy experts and psychology graduate students on the impact of student debt on the pursuit of graduate study and career choices. Attendees then met with members and staff of more than 150 congressional offices. As a result of this effective lobbying, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced the "Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt Act," or the POST GRAD Act. This legislation would restore graduate students' eligibility for the federal subsidized student loan program, a benefit that was lost in 2012.
Senate approves Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act
While Congress continues to debate the need for comprehensive mental health reform, the Senate passed the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2015. Introduced over the summer by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the bill calls for improving programs that increase awareness, prevention and early identification of mental health conditions. The bill would reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act suicide prevention programs, as well as several other important federal programs focused on mental health awareness in schools and children's recovery from traumatic events.
— Karen Studwell
