Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Warnock (D-GA) and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) introduced the ASSIST Act, legislation to hire and retain more mental health and substance use disorder care professionals in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education

The announcement comes on the final day of Mental Health Awareness Month, a month designated to fighting stigma, supporting education, providing support, and pushing for public policy improvements surrounding mental health

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation going into this school year, 19% of public schools had vacancies for mental health professionals. Among schools with these vacancies, 84% reported it would be somewhat or very difficult to fill these mental health positions

Senator Reverend Warnock and Representative Castor have been tireless advocates for mental health resources, including leading the charge to expand Medicaid for non-expansion states, which would provide mental health resources to millions who fall in the coverage gap

Senator Reverend Warnock: “We hear a lot about how the country needs to make a more serious effort to address mental health challenges, especially as we deal with the ongoing gun violence crisis—but we are never going to improve mental health until and unless we start placing the same value on mental health care that we do with physical health care.”

Representative Castor: “I hear from students, parents, teachers and health care providers all across Tampa Bay about the significant shortage of mental and behavioral health professionals that is delaying or preventing our neighbors from receiving the care they need. This commonsense legislation will make a real difference in keeping our students safe, healthy, engaged and on the right track to a successful future.”

ICYMI: Last year, Senator Reverend Warnock visited Dorothy Height Elementary School in Columbus, GA to discuss the student mental health crisis with school officials, mental health professionals, parents, and students

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) re-introduced the Advancing Student Services in Schools Today (ASSIST) Act. The legislation would establish a new competitive grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services to hire and retain mental health professionals in schools. Under this new initiative, school districts will be able to apply for federal grants that will provide new funding for mental health and substance use disorder care services through the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). This FMAP boost would cover 90% of the expenses toward hiring and training mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools and school-based health centers—potentially increasing the pay for these mental health professionals. Additionally, because this competitive grant program would be funded through Medicaid, it would be less vulnerable to cuts in the annual government funding process. This consistent funding stream would help keep mental health professionals in schools, allowing them to build stronger relationships with students and the school’s broader community.

“Many of us have felt and are still feeling the effects of the recent pandemic on our mental health, but students have felt the negative impact of the pandemic in an entirely different way, and that’s not even to mention the trauma visited on our children by rampant gun violence in our schools and communities. That’s why I’ve introduced the ASSIST Act, because we need to make sure that schools have the resources they need to have mental health professionals accessible for students in the classroom,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“We hear a lot about how the country needs to make a more serious effort to address mental health challenges, especially as we deal with the ongoing gun violence crisis—but we are never going to improve mental health until and unless we start placing the same value on mental health care that we do with physical health care. I’m proud to work with Representative Castor on this important, timely legislation.”

“We have a youth mental health crisis in this country, and we have a responsibility to act now to ensure our children can access the appropriate mental and behavioral health care they need,” said Representative Castor. “Ensuring our children can get care where they are is key to improving mental health outcomes and reduces substance use disorders among youth, an issue that has been growing for decades. I hear from students, parents, teachers and health care providers all across Tampa Bay about the significant shortage of mental and behavioral health professionals that is delaying or preventing our neighbors from receiving the care they need. I’m proud to reintroduce the ASSIST Act with Senator Raphael Warnock today, which will help remove cost barriers for providers to care for children in our schools with a sustainable funding stream. This commonsense legislation will make a real difference in keeping our students safe, healthy, engaged and on the right track to a successful future.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, more than 42% of students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly 29% of students experienced poor mental health. Tragically, more than one in five students seriously considered suicide in 2021. This alarming data highlights the need for better behavioral health services for students, particularly in the school setting where those services are more accessible. At the same time, K-12 schools are contending with vacancies for mental health professionals. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation going into this schools year, 19% of public schools had vacancies for mental health professionals. Among schools with these vacancies, 84% reported it will be somewhat or very difficult to fill these mental health positions.

The ASSIST Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tom Carper (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Additionally, the legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Federation of Teachers, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Children’s Hospital Association, Families USA, First Focus Campaign for Children, International OCD Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, RI International, The Kennedy Forum, Trust for America’s Health.

Full bill text of the ASSIST Act is available here, section by section summary is available here, and legislative one pager is available here.