The bipartisan Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (star) Plus Scholarship Act, introduced by Representatives Andrea Salinas (D–Oregon) and Marc Molinaro (R–New York) on September 12, 2024, aims to grow the mental and behavioral health workforce by creating a scholarship program for students pursuing a degree in mental and behavioral health or substance use disorder treatment fields.
APA Services worked closely with the representatives in the drafting and introduction of the bill. In a press release from Representative Salinas’s officeopens in new window, APA CEO Arthur Evans noted: “The U.S. continues to face a shortage of mental health care professionals, including psychologists. The cost of education is often a barrier to growing and diversifying the mental health workforce, as more prospective psychologists are forced to rely on student loans to finance their education. By creating a scholarship program for students pursuing a career as a mental health services or substance use disorder treatment provider, the star Plus Scholarship Act would ensure that more qualified professionals are trained to meet the needs of underserved communities without having to take on additional student debt. The American Psychological Association applauds Congresswoman Salinas and Congressman Molinaro for introducing this important legislation.”
For more information, contact Kenneth Polishchuk or Raegina Likewise.