On Feb. 12, 2021, APA held a virtual meeting with Luis Padilla, PhD, associate administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce. APA was represented by Cathi Grus, PhD, APA’s chief education officer, and Jared Skillings, PhD, APA’s chief practice officer. The meeting focused on the integration of behavioral health in primary care, funding for master’s- and doctoral-level psychology education and training, and collaboration on workforce data. On the issue of workforce data, Karen Stamm, PhD, director of APA’s Center for Workforce Studies discussed ideas to improve workforce projections and highlighted the importance of better estimates of unmet need for mental health services. APA’s leaders also emphasized the distinct role of psychologists in the behavioral health workforce, expressing the importance of psychology education and training.
Building strong connections between APA and HRSA through meetings and discussion helps develop psychology policy and programs and opens doors for future collaboration.
For additional information, contact Alix Ginsberg, MPH or Karen Stamm, PhD.