Analysis of the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act

This assignment presents a comprehensive analysis of the "Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act." The document begins with a detailed legislation comparison grid, outlining the bill's description, legislative intent, proponents, opponents, target population, and current status within the legislative process. The analysis identifies key aspects of the bill, such as its focus on providing financial resources to educational institutions and graduate agencies to increase mental health services, particularly in low-income areas. The second part of the assignment involves the development of a legislation testimony/advocacy statement, where the author takes a position in favor of the bill. The statement provides compelling arguments supporting the bill's implementation, emphasizing the critical need for mental health services in schools. The author supports their position by citing statistics on the prevalence of mental health issues among young people and advocates for addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals. The assignment concludes with a list of references used in the analysis.

Running head: LEGISLATION COMPARISON GRID
LEGISLATION COMPARISON GRID
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1LEGISLATION COMPARISON GRID
Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid
Health-related Bill
Name
Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act
Bill Number S.1642 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Description The bill is directed toward the Department of Education (ED) is offering
funds to the partners between various educational institutions and
graduate agencies intended to rise the number of schools that offer
services related to mental health specifically by the low-income local
educational agencies (LEAs). The grants can be provided for any
specific intentions such as offer student loans and credit to tuition,
supporting recruitment, training and hiring purposes (Congress.gov,
2020). Furthermore, the ED will be responsible for developing a
program in order to give student-loan forgiveness to people:
1. who have never participated in any grant programs that were
developed under the bill
2. who has been employed by LEAs for five or more school years as
mental health service providers
Federal or State? State
Legislative Intent The legislative intent is to promote the accessibility of mental health
service in school in order to enhance the mental status of children by
offering monetary funds in low-income regions (GovTrack.us, 2020).
Proponents/ Proponents:

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Opponents The people that are in favour of the bill include:
Senator Jon Tester
State: In Congress
Party: Democratic
Opponents:
No
Target Population The target population of the bill is schools that are funded by low-
income local educational agencies. This was intended for increasing the
mental health services within the schoolchildren and other staffs.
Status of the bill
(Is it in hearings or
committees? Is it
receiving press
coverage?)
The bill is introduced and the Senate - 05/23/2019 has read it twice and
has referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
for further processing (Congress.gov, 2020). The bill is in the committee
and it is receiving Press coverage.
General
Notes/Comments
The bill was introduced in 23rd May 2019 by Ms Judy Chu of California,
which was discussed to the Committee on Education and Labor.
As per the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
President Lisa Kelly-Vance, there is a growing crisis related to mental
health among the young people that had increased the rate of youth
suicide, and thus, the school play is stated to have a vital role in meeting
the needs of those people. In the case of left addressed, it would interfere
with the learning, social engagement, behaviour and wellbeing. It had
insisted the Members of Congress support this particular legislation on

3LEGISLATION COMPARISON GRID
an immediate basis for the benefit of the long-term interest of the
schoolchildren and the country (Nami.org, 2020). The senates are
interested in sponsoring the bill.

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Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
According to the study, one out of five students are found to suffer or experience
mental health illness. Therefore, it can be stated that they require support because 80% of the
children are not aware as a result of which they do not receive appropriate services
(Nami.org, 2020). Those that are receiving services are found to access majorly from the
school. As per the research, it can be seen that the students are more likely to access mental
health services in case it is offered from schools. This is specifically true in the case of low-
income society. Due to the lack or shortage of psychologist and other trained professionals,
there is a huge gap created from receiving the support related to mental health services
(Nami.org, 2020). Therefore, it is opined that the implementation of legislation is important
for addressing the shortage in healthcare professionals as well as improving access to services
in offering grants. This will allow in creating community partnership with local education
institutions and agencies. This will be useful in offer help related to recruitment, training and
retention of school social worker, psychologist and counsellor in critical areas where support
is primarily required.
However, it is evident that opponents will be posing hindrance in passing the bill to
become a law. Therefore, substantial evidence needs to be supported for opposing the claims
of the opponents. One of the most critical aspects that need to be considered in this case is the
percentage of young people that are suffering from mental illness. The appearance of mental
health condition occurs in the young people that contributes to 50% of the conditions that
develop by the age of 14 years and 75% up to the age of 24 (National Association of School
Psychologists (NASP), 2019). There is a delay in experience symptoms by the young person
and getting help, and thus, it can be stated that implementation of the bill and making it law
will help support the school to train their own faculty and staff for identifying the early signs
of warning and linking them to the services. The prioritisation needs to be done as the

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condition is deteriorating day-by-day and the immediate response in the form of law is
critical in nature. The evidence-based practice need to be included to address the opponent to
my position. By offering them in-depth evidence, highlighting the issue of mental health and
its impact on the society can be useful. The community-based approach can be used that will
specifically help in spreading awareness in the community is one of the most appropriate
option in proving position with respect to the bill, Increasing Access to Mental Health in
Schools Act.

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References
Congress.gov. (2020). All Info - S.1642 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Increasing Access to
Mental Health in Schools Act. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1642/all-info?r=45&s=1
GovTrack.us. (2020). Text of H.R. 2958: Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act
(Introduced version) - GovTrack.us. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr2958/text/ih
Nami.org. (2020). Mental Health in Schools | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness .
Retrieved 29 February 2020, from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Public-
Policy/Mental-Health-in-Schools
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2019). NASP Urges Support for the
Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act. Retrieved 29 February 2020,
from https://www.nasponline.org/about-school-psychology/media-room/press-
releases/nasp-urges-support-for-the-increasing-access-to-mental-health-in-schools-act