DeLauro, Fitzpatrick, Hayes Reintroduce Bipartisan Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act
U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act, legislation that would address the urgent need for mental health professionals in schools. In DeLauro’s first year as Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, she created the School Based Mental Health Service Grants program to increase the number of mental health professionals available at schools.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and AFT Connecticut (AFTCT), American Psychological Association (APA), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), National Education Association (NEA) and Connecticut Education Association (CEA), Network for Public Education (NPE), and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).
“I was inspired to create the School Based Mental Health Services Grants program after countless conversations with Connecticut parents, educators, and district leaders about the urgent need for more mental health professionals in schools,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “We secured an additional $500 million through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to grow this critical program. Now, the Trump administration has announced plans to cancel $1 billion in school mental health funding for more than 200 school districts and state nationwide. Unlike President Trump, I will stand up for our children’s mental health. I’m proud to introduce the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act to keep fighting for our kids.”
“No child should be forced to navigate mental health challenges without access to skilled, qualified professionals. Yet in far too many schools, these services remain out of reach. This legislation makes a critical investment to expand capacity, improve early intervention, and ensure consistent, evidence-based care,” said Fitzpatrick. “As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I have worked to elevate this issue as a national priority and will continue advancing bipartisan solutions to deliver lasting improvements for students and families.”
“Investing in the mental health of students is a critical step we can take for the future of our children,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act will increase the number of qualified mental health professionals available to students, providing both preventative care and crisis intervention. We must ensure every school has the resources to provide students with the care they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.”
"To meet the mental health needs of children and youth, services must be available where they are every day — in schools,” said Dr. Peter Faustino, President of NASP. “Students are six times more likely to receive mental health support when it’s offered in school settings, yet ongoing shortages of school psychologists continue to limit access. We applaud Congresswoman DeLauro for reintroducing this important legislation. It’s a critical opportunity to help schools build the mental and behavioral health workforce students need to thrive."
"Students today are experiencing unprecedented levels of trauma, anxiety and stress, a crisis that impacts their ability to learn and do well in school,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “That crisis is exacerbated by social media companies profiting off addicting young people, and the reality that too many school districts don’t have the staff and resources to meaningfully address mental wellbeing, leaving educators and school staff triaging to support students who need dedicated mental health professionals. Robust mental health services in schools should be the norm, not the exception, and the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act gets us one step closer to achieving that goal. Thank you for your leadership, Rep. DeLauro."
“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,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “We applaud Representatives DeLauro, Fitzpatrick, and Haynes for introducing this critically need bipartisan legislation and look forward to working with them to pass it into law.”
Under the School Based Mental Health Services Grants program, awards are made to school districts and states to directly increase the number of these vital mental health professionals, including school counselors, social workers, psychologists, or other mental health professionals qualified to provide school-based mental health services. This legislation codifies this important grant program to authorize historic investments made by Congress and to continue addressing the urgent need for additional mental health professionals in schools.
The text of the legislation is available here.