PRA Supports Introduction of Key Legislative Initiatives in Congress

Making Children and Schools a Priority: The Mental Health in Schools Act

On January 31, Senator Franken (D-Minn) introduced the Mental Health in Schools Act (S. 195, MHIS) to the new Congress. The MHIS Act would provide much needed resources to schools across the nation by giving grants to local communities to implement comprehensive school mental health programs that incorporate positive behavioral interventions, client treatment, and supports to foster the health and development of children. The MHIS Act also empowers the Secretary of Education to provide assistance to local communities in the development of policies to address child and adolescent trauma and mental health issues and violence, facilitate community partnerships, and establish a mechanism for children and adolescents to report incidents of violence or plans for violence. The bill is expected to have a companion introduced shortly in the House.

PRA is a strong supporter of the Mental Health in Schools Act and applauds those leaders on Capitol Hill who have taken the lead on increasing resources available to children in this regard. If you are a practitioner interested in mental health services for children, we encourage you to look into PRA’s children’s mental health educational opportunities and demonstrate your professionalism and competency in the field by earning your Certificate in Children’s Psychiatric Rehabilitation. All course work is accepted as continuing education by the National Board of Certified Counselors, Association of Social Work Boards, American Psychological Association, and American Occupational Therapy Association.

Recognizing that Behavioral Health May be at the Center of Health Care Needs: Excellence in Mental Health Act

On February 7, Senator Stabenow (D-Mich) introduced the Excellence in Mental Health Act. This legislation would recognize that behavioral health is frequently a central health care issue for individuals by establishing national standards and oversight for Federally Qualified Community Behavioral Health Centers (FQCBHCs). FQCBHCs would place mental health service provision at the center of a participant’s health care and work to coordinate their mental and physical health care needs in an appropriate manner to provide the best and most comprehensive care possible.

As innovation spurred by health reform and the Affordable Care Act move our health care system towards a more integrated delivery of care, the creation of FQBHCs would recognize that mental health issues are frequently primary for individuals working towards recovery. If issues related to integrated care are of interest to you as a practitioner, we encourage you to check back with the PRA website as we unveil topics for our 2013 PRA Annual Conference June 9-12, 2013 in Atlanta, GA – as this hot topic is definitely on our educational agenda.

About the Author: Cherilyn earned her law degree from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia and a bachelor’s in Government from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She provides high-end public policy leadership, advocacy direction and management, and broad-based strategic leadership and governance consultation to PRA.

About PRA’s Public Policy Committee: PRA’s Public Policy Committee consists of eleven members, four of whom sit on PRA’s Board of Directors. The committee meets once a month via teleconference to discuss PRA’s public policy agenda and the activities PRA can engage in to further support the psychiatric rehabilitation community. The committee’s activity includes, organizing PRA’s involvement in the annual Capitol Hill Day, working with legislators, and supporting legislation that advances the availability and practice of psychiatric rehabilitation.