S AMDT 999

S 999 IS

To increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents, and for other purposes.

May 7, 2009

Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, and Ms. STABENOW) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

To increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Center for Mental Health Services estimates that 20 percent or 13,700,000 of the Nation’s children and adolescents have a diagnosable mental disorder, and about 2/3 of these children and adolescents do not receive mental health care.

(2) According to ‘Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General’ in 1999, there are approximately 6,000,000 to 9,000,000 children and adolescents in the United States (accounting for 9 to 13 percent of all children and adolescents in the United States) who meet the definition for having a serious emotional disturbance.

(3) According to the Center for Mental Health Services, approximately 5 to 9 percent of United States children and adolescents meet the definition for extreme functional impairment.

(4) According to the Surgeon General’s Report, there are particularly acute shortages in the numbers of mental health service professionals serving children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders.

(5) According to the National Center for Education Statistics in the Department of Education, there are approximately 479 students for each school counselor in United States schools, which ratio is almost double the recommended ratio of 250 students for each school counselor.

(6) According to the Bureau of Health Professions in 2000, the demand for the services of child and adolescent psychiatry is projected to increase by 100 percent by 2020.

(7) The development and application of knowledge about the impact of disasters on children, adolescents, and their families has been impeded by critical shortages of qualified researchers and practitioners specializing in this work.

(8) According to the Bureau of the Census, the population of children and adolescents in the United States under the age of 18 is projected to grow by more than 40 percent in the next 50 years from 70,000,000 to more than 100,000,000 by 2050.

(9) There are approximately 7,000 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States. Only 300 child and adolescent psychiatrists complete training each year.

(10) According to the Department of Health and Human Services, racial and ethnic minority representation is lacking in the mental health workforce. Although 12 percent of the United States population is African-American, only 2 percent of psychologists, 2 percent of psychiatrists, and 4 percent of social workers are African-American providers. Moreover, there are only 29 Hispanic mental health professionals for every 100,000 Hispanics in the United States, compared with 173 non-Hispanic White providers per 100,000.

(11) According to a 2006 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the national shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists affects poor children and adolescents living in rural areas the hardest.

(12) According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the ‘U.S. mental health system is not well equipped to meet the needs of racial and ethnic minority populations.’. This is quite evident in access to care issues involving racial and ethnic minority children. Studies have shown that there are striking racial and ethnic differences in the utilization of mental health services among children and youth. Overall, mental health services meet the needs of 31 percent of non-minority children, but only 13 percent of minority children.

(13) According to the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 70 percent of youth involved in State and local juvenile justice systems throughout the country suffer from mental disorders, with at least 20 percent experiencing symptoms so severe that their ability to function is significantly impaired.

(14) The Institute of Medicine, in Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Disorders, Quality Chasm Series (2006) recommended that clinicians and patients communicate effectively and share information to ensure quality care, which is enhanced with education programs that allow families and consumers to share information with mental health providers about the lived experience of mental illness.

SEC. 3. LOAN REPAYMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS TO IMPROVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘Subpart 3--Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care

‘SEC. 775. LOAN REPAYMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS TO IMPROVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

‘(a) Loan Repayments for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Professionals-

‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may establish a program of entering into contracts on a competitive basis with eligible individuals under which--

‘(A) the eligible individual agrees to be employed full-time for a specified period (which shall be not less than 2 years) in providing mental health services to children and adolescents; and

‘(B) the Secretary agrees to make, during not more than 3 years of the period of employment described in subparagraph (A), partial or total payments on behalf of the individual on the principal and interest due on the undergraduate and graduate educational loans of the eligible individual.

‘(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL- For purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means an individual who--

‘(A) is receiving specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health in psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, or professional counseling and has less than 1 year remaining before completion of such training or clinical experience; or

‘(B)(i) has a license or certification in a State to practice allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, psychology, school psychology, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, or professional counseling; and

‘(ii)(I) is a mental health service professional who completed (but not before the end of the calendar year in which this section is enacted) specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health described in subparagraph (A); or

‘(II) is a physician who graduated from (but not before the end of the calendar year in which this section is enacted) an accredited child and adolescent psychiatry residency or fellowship program in the United States.

‘(3) ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may not enter into a contract under this subsection with an eligible individual unless--

‘(A) the individual is a United States citizen or a permanent legal United States resident; and

‘(B) if the individual is enrolled in a graduate program (including a medical residency or fellowship), the program is accredited, and the individual has an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the Secretary).

‘(4) PRIORITY- In entering into contracts under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants who--

‘(A) are or will be working with high-priority populations for mental health in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP);

‘(B) have familiarity with evidence-based methods and cultural and linguistic competence in child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(C) demonstrate financial need; and

‘(D) are or will be working in the publicly funded sector, particularly in community mental health programs described in section 1913(b)(1).

‘(5) MEANINGFUL LOAN REPAYMENT- If the Secretary determines that funds appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection are not sufficient to allow a meaningful loan repayment to all expected applicants, the Secretary shall limit the number of contracts entered into under paragraph (1) to ensure that each such contract provides for a meaningful loan repayment.

‘(6) AMOUNT-

‘(A) MAXIMUM- For each year that the Secretary agrees to make payments on behalf of an individual under a contract entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary may agree to pay not more than $35,000 on behalf of the individual.

‘(B) CONSIDERATION- In determining the amount of payments to be made on behalf of an eligible individual under a contract to be entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the eligible individual’s income and debt load.

‘(7) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS- The provisions of sections 338E and 338F shall apply to the program established under paragraph (1) to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established in subpart III of part D of title III.

‘(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

‘(b) Scholarships for Students Studying To Become Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Professionals-

‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may establish a program to award scholarships on a competitive basis to eligible students who agree to enter into full-time employment (as described in paragraph (4)(C)) as a child and adolescent mental health service professional after graduation or completion of a residency or fellowship.

‘(2) ELIGIBLE STUDENT- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘eligible student’ means a United States citizen or a permanent legal United States resident who--

‘(A) is enrolled or accepted to be enrolled in an accredited graduate program that includes specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health in psychology, school psychology, psychiatric nursing, behavioral pediatrics, social work, school social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, or professional counseling and, if enrolled, has an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the Secretary); or

‘(B)(i) is enrolled or accepted to be enrolled in an accredited graduate training program of allopathic or osteopathic medicine in the United States and, if enrolled, has an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the Secretary); and

‘(ii) intends to complete an accredited residency or fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry or behavioral pediatrics.

‘(3) PRIORITY- In awarding scholarships under this subsection, the Secretary shall give--

‘(A) highest priority to applicants who previously received a scholarship under this subsection and satisfy the criteria described in subparagraph (B); and

‘(B) second highest priority to applicants who--

‘(i) demonstrate a commitment to working with high-priority populations for mental health in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP) and to students from high-priority populations;

‘(ii) have familiarity with evidence-based methods in child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(iii) demonstrate financial need; and

‘(iv) are or will be working in the publicly funded sector, particularly in community mental health programs described in section 1913(b)(1).

‘(4) REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may award a scholarship to an eligible student under this subsection only if the eligible student agrees--

‘(A) to complete any graduate training program, internship, residency, or fellowship applicable to that eligible student under paragraph (2);

‘(B) to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the Secretary) during the completion of such graduate training program, internship, residency, or fellowship; and

‘(C) to be employed full-time after graduation or completion of a residency or fellowship, for not less than the number of years for which a scholarship is received by the eligible student under this subsection, in providing mental health services to children and adolescents.

‘(5) USE OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS- A scholarship awarded to an eligible student for a school year under this subsection may be used only to pay for tuition expenses of the school year, other reasonable educational expenses (including fees, books, and laboratory expenses incurred by the eligible student in the school year), and reasonable living expenses, as such tuition expenses, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses are determined by the Secretary.

‘(6) AMOUNT- The amount of a scholarship under this subsection shall not exceed the total amount of the tuition expenses, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses described in paragraph (5).

‘(7) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS- The provisions of sections 338E and 338F shall apply to the program established under paragraph (1) to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program established in subpart III of part D of title III.

‘(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

‘(c) Clinical Training Grants for Professionals-

‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in cooperation with the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, may establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to accredited institutions of higher education or accredited professional training programs to establish or expand internships or other field placement programs for students receiving specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health in psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, or professional counseling.

‘(2) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that--

‘(A) have demonstrated the ability to collect data on the number of students trained in child and adolescent mental health and the populations served by such students after graduation;

‘(B) have demonstrated familiarity with evidence-based methods in child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(C) have programs designed to increase the number of professionals serving high-priority populations and to applicants who come from high-priority communities and plan to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas (MUA), or Medically Underserved Populations (MUP); and

‘(D) offer curriculum taught collaboratively with a family on the consumer and family lived experience or the importance of family-professional partnership.

‘(3) REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may award a grant to an applicant under this subsection only if the applicant agrees that--

‘(A) any internship or other field placement program assisted under the grant will prioritize cultural and linguistic competency;

‘(B) students benefitting from any assistance under this subsection will be United States citizens or permanent legal United States residents;

‘(C) the institution will provide to the Secretary such data, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require; and

‘(D) with respect to any violation of the agreement between the Secretary and the institution, the institution will pay such liquidated damages as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation.

‘(4) APPLICATION- The Secretary shall require that any application for a grant under this subsection include a description of the applicant’s experience working with child and adolescent mental health issues.

‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

‘(d) Progressive Education Grants for Paraprofessionals-

‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in cooperation with the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, may establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to State-licensed mental health nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including accredited institutions of higher education) to enable such organizations to pay for programs for preservice or in-service training of paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health workers.

‘(2) DEFINITION- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health worker’ means an individual who is not a mental health service professional, but who works at the first stage of contact with children and families who are seeking mental health services.

‘(3) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that--

‘(A) have demonstrated the ability to collect data on the number of paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health workers trained by the applicant and the populations served by these workers after the completion of the training;

‘(B) have familiarity with evidence-based methods in child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(C) have programs designed to increase the number of paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health workers serving high-priority populations; and

‘(D) provide services through a community mental health program described in section 1913(b)(1).

‘(4) REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may award a grant to an organization under this subsection only if the organization agrees that--

‘(A) any training program assisted under the grant will prioritize cultural and linguistic competency;

‘(B) the organization will provide to the Secretary such data, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require; and

‘(C) with respect to any violation of the agreement between the Secretary and the organization, the organization will pay such liquidated damages as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation.

‘(5) APPLICATION- The Secretary shall require that any application for a grant under this subsection include a description of the applicant’s experience working with paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health workers.

‘(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

‘(e) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program Development Grants-

‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may establish a program to increase the number of well-trained child and adolescent mental health service professionals in the United States by awarding grants on a competitive basis to accredited institutions of higher education to enable the institutions to establish or expand accredited graduate child and adolescent mental health programs.

‘(2) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that--

‘(A) demonstrate familiarity with the use of evidence-based methods in child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(B) provide experience in and collaboration with community-based child and adolescent mental health services;

‘(C) have included normal child development curricula; and

‘(D) demonstrate commitment to working with high-priority populations.

‘(3) USE OF FUNDS- Funds received as a grant under this subsection may be used to establish or expand any accredited graduate child and adolescent mental health program in any manner deemed appropriate by the Secretary, including by improving the course work, related field placements, or faculty of such program.

‘(4) REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may award a grant to an accredited institution of higher education under this subsection only if the institution agrees that--

‘(A) any child and adolescent mental health program assisted under the grant will prioritize cultural and linguistic competency;

‘(B) the institution will provide to the Secretary such data, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require; and

‘(C) with respect to any violation of the agreement between the Secretary and the institution, the institution will pay such liquidated damages as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation.

‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

‘(f) Definitions- In this section:

‘(1) SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH- The term ‘specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health’ means training and clinical experience that--

‘(A) is part of or occurs after completion of an accredited graduate program in the United States for training mental health service professionals;

‘(B) consists of not less than 500 hours of training or clinical experience in treating children and adolescents; and

‘(C) is comprehensive, coordinated, developmentally appropriate, and of high quality to address the unique ethnic and cultural diversity of the United States population.

‘(2) HIGH-PRIORITY POPULATION- The term ‘high-priority population’ means--

‘(A) a population in which there is a significantly greater incidence than the national average of--

‘(i) children who have serious emotional disturbances; or

‘(ii) children who are racial, ethnic, or linguistic minorities; or

‘(B) a population consisting of individuals living in a high-poverty urban or rural area.

‘(3) MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONAL- The term ‘mental health service professional’ means an individual with a graduate or postgraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, marriage and family counseling, school counseling, or professional counseling.’.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO IMPROVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE.