As part of President Joe Biden’s Unity Agenda, the administration has announced a comprehensive strategy to address our nation’s mental health crisis. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will solicit public input regarding improvements to the Department’s disability rights regulations, and will include input from those people with disabilities who also have mental health needs and their advocates.
Biden announced he would include $1 billion in his 2023 budget for schools to hire more school counselors, psychologists, social workers and other staff who work directly with students. Nearly every state, including New Jersey, falls short of meeting recommended ratios for such professionals. While the National Association for School Psychologists recommends one psychologist for every 500 students, the organization says the average is closer to one for 1,200 and reaches 5,000 in some states. The shortage extends to school counselors as well. Nearly one in five students don’t have access to a counselor at their school, according to a 2019 report from the Education Trust.
In addition, President Biden committed to eliminate obstacles for schools to be reimbursed by Medicaid for student mental health services. He also pledged $50 million for pilot programs that would place mental health clinics in schools, libraries and other non-traditional locations.
