U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas is pushing a bill that would expand health services provided in public schools with the goal of helping children and youth with mental health and addiction issues early in life. .
Salinas, an Oregon Democrat, has made behavioral health a priority during his first term as a member of the 6th Congressional District.Includes parts of Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Clackamas, and Washington counties. Salinas is co-sponsoring a bill that would direct $300 million in federal funding to school-based health centers that often serve students from low-income families and provide mental health care services to students. There is.
Health care providers, who are often affiliated with federally supported health centers that serve low-income populations, open clinics within schools and work with students, who often use Medicaid. There is. The clinic offers a variety of services, from physical exams and treatment for minor injuries to drug and alcohol counseling. They receive reimbursement through Medicaid and other insurance policies, but that’s often not enough to break even. Salinas said federal support is needed to be sustainable.
“We need to be able to find ways to make them more complete because the kids need it,” Salinas said.
Salinas is a co-sponsor of: invoice It would allocate $300 million nationwide to allow public schools to partner with mental health providers to provide on-site health services for students. Salinas said the bill, introduced by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), would save money in the long run.
She is also a co-sponsor invoice It would provide grants to states to hire more school-based mental health providers and counselors. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would provide states with $100 million annually for the next four years.
School health centers help students stay healthy by providing preventive services and reduce stigma for students who need mental health or addiction treatment, Salinas said.
Efforts by the Oregon Legislature to boost funding for school health centers stumbled this year. The state Legislature failed to advance an $18 million bill to expand school health centers and mental health and addiction services for students.
Oregon Legislature allocates millions of dollars to address addiction in adults, but stumbles on funding for children
national needs
Doug Riggs, a lobbyist for the Oregon School Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for health centers, said such support from Congress for expanding school-based health centers is needed.
“Very few school districts have health centers in schools,” Riggs said. “There is a tremendous need, especially in the post-pandemic era, given the dramatic increase in mental health issues, behavioral health issues, and substance abuse issues, and growing awareness among young people. Yes, all children in all schools need adequate resources to cope.”
Oregon has school health centers in 87 schools across the state, or about 7% of Oregon’s roughly 1,200 schools, according to state data. Approximately 40,000 students visited the clinic during the 2021-2022 academic year.
For Salinas, these bills represent her latest work on behavioral health. She also introduced proposals to expand access to. peer support worker And put more federal money into it. Gambling addiction treatment.
In February, Salinas became co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, a bipartisan group with more than 100 representatives that supports policies that support access to care.
Salinas said she is optimistic that in recent years there has been more public recognition of the need to improve the mental health system.
“I feel like there’s more awareness about this,” Salinas said. “And it feels like we’re getting closer and closer to making this kind of service a reality, not just in Oregon but across the country with this kind of excitement.”
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