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Psychology workforce training and education programs get funding boosts with sustained advocacy

Continued advocacy by APA Services throughout the 117th Congress culminated in significant investments in federal psychology workforce training programs and increased funding for education and school- and campus-based mental health policies.

Date created: January 25, 2023 2 min read
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American Psychological Association. (2023, January 25). Psychology workforce training and education programs get funding boosts with sustained advocacy. https://www.apaservices.org/advocacy/news/psychology-workforce-training-funding

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Prior to adjourning at the end of last year, the 117th Congress wrapped up its work by passing a $1.7 trillion government funding omnibus bill for fiscal year (FY) 2023, which included funding increases to and reauthorizations of several key psychology workforce programs, as well as increased funding for a variety of early childhood, K–12, and higher education programs. APA Services’ advocacy was instrumental in securing these important wins.

For psychology workforce training, key programs receiving increases include:

  • Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program: $25 million in FY23, a $5 million increase over FY22 funding. The omnibus also reauthorized this program through FY27.
  • Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET): $153 million in FY23, a $50 million increase over FY22 funding.
  • Minority Fellowship Program (MFP): $19.4 million in FY23, an increase of $3.2 million over FY22 funding. The omnibus also reauthorizes the program at a $25 million level through FY27.

Over the past two years, APA Services advocated for increased funding for the full continuum of education, from early childhood to graduate school, which helped lead to historic investments, both through the regular appropriations process as well as the American Rescue Plan Act and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Much of this culminated in the end of year omnibus, which included increases to school-based mental health, social and emotional learning, and teacher preparation programs. Some of the largest increases were among Title I, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Head Start, and childcare programs. On the higher education side, programs that address campus mental health and help finance the education of low-income and first-generation college students, including current and prospective graduate psychology students, received funding increases.

Highlights of programs of potential interest:

Early childhood education

  • Head Start: $11.9 billion in FY23, a $930 million increase over FY22 funding.

K–12 education

  • Student Support and Academic Enrichment Block Grant (Title IV-A): $1.4 billion in FY23, a $100 million increase over FY22 funding.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, Grants to States: $15.2 billion in FY23, a $904 million increase over FY22 funding.
  • Safe Schools National Activities: $216 million in FY23, a $15 million increase over FY22 funding.
  • Project aware: $140 million in FY23, a $20 million increase over FY22 funding.

Higher education

  • Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN): $24 million in FY23, which is level to FY22 funding.
  • Pell Grants: $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant, a $500 increase over FY22 funding.
  • TRIO Programs: $1.2 billion in FY23, a $54 million increase over FY22 funding.
  • Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Program: $8.5 million in FY23, a $2 million increase over FY22 funding. The omnibus also reauthorized this program through FY27.

For more information, contact Kenneth Polishchuk.

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