Warnock re-introduces school mental health legislation

May 31—WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. the Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., have 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. 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.

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