This paper examines the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act, legislation introduced in both chambers of the U.S. Congress between 2005 and 2007 to address the shortage of qualified mental health professionals serving children and adolescents. The paper traces the bill's origins with Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Senator Jeff Bingaman, outlines the key provisions — including loan forgiveness, scholarships, and grants to higher education institutions — and follows the legislative history through committee referrals and related amendments. It also discusses advocacy efforts by groups such as the American Counseling Association and the barriers that prevented the bills from becoming law.
The Child Health Care Relief Act (HR-1106) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 3, 2005, by Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and in the U.S. Senate (S.537) by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) on March 7, 2005. The House bill attracted 59 additional cosponsors, while the Senate version had 15 cosponsors. The legislation provides incentives to increase the number of well-trained mental health professionals delivering services to children and adolescents. Support for children and adolescents would be provided through loan forgiveness programs, scholarships, and clinical grants. In addition, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program Development scholarships would be awarded to institutions of higher education.
A significant legislative event occurred in connection with the College Access and Opportunity Act (HR-609). Representative Kennedy, drawing on his earlier memorandum, proposed a version of HR-1106 as an amendment to that bill. By a vote of 380 to 38, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted the Kennedy–Ros-Lehtinen amendment. The amendment would extend loan forgiveness under the Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need program to child and adolescent mental health professionals, with the goal of encouraging individuals to pursue careers in that field. While the amendment was significant, it remained uncertain whether the provision would become law or whether it could serve as a replacement for HR-1106.
The Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007 aimed to increase the number of well-trained mental health professionals providing clinical and mental health care to children and adolescents. The bill proposed amending the Public Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to establish programs related to mental health services for children and adolescents.
The most significant provisions included: (1) entering into agreements with qualified individuals to repay their loans in exchange for providing mental health services to children and adolescents; (2) providing scholarships to students who commit to working as child and adolescent mental health service professionals after graduation or completion of their residency; (3) awarding grants to institutions of higher education to fund internship programs; (4) presenting awards to state-licensed mental health programs to support training of child and adolescent mental health workers; and (5) providing awards to higher education institutions to expand child and adolescent mental health programs.
This issue received periodic legislative attention, with the most recent referral occurring on May 15, 2007, when it was sent to the House Subcommittee on Health. The issue has remained unresolved over time.
The development of policy alternatives involved Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Representative Patrick Kennedy (RI-1), and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). No special interest groups were formally involved in developing the legislative alternatives.
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced S.1572, the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007, to establish loan forgiveness for counselors working in underserved areas. He collaborated with Representative Patrick Kennedy (RI-1) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), who had introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives the previous May. Together, H.R. 2073 and S.1572 sought to ensure that America's younger generation had sufficient access to child and adolescent mental health professionals across the country. If passed, the bills would provide special scholarships to certain schools and mental health counselors working with children. However, neither bill was enacted, and as a result, no loan forgiveness program has been made available.
Proponents of H.R. 2073 communicated with House members as follows: "I am writing/calling to ask the Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2073, the 'Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007.' This bill will grant much-needed loan forgiveness and scholarships to mental health professionals who work with children and adolescents. America's youth need proper mental health care, and H.R. 2073 will encourage mental health professionals to help address the current shortage of providers for children. Please tell the Representative that I hope he/she will support loan forgiveness for mental health professionals. Thank you for your time." (Copyright 2008, American Counseling Association)
Similarly, advocates for S.1572 communicated with Senators as follows: "I am writing/calling to ask the Senator to cosponsor S.1572, the 'Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2007,' which would grant much-needed loan forgiveness and scholarships to mental health professionals who work with children and adolescents. America's youth need proper mental health care, and these funding opportunities could encourage mental health professionals to help address the current shortage of providers for children. Senator Bingaman has introduced S.1572, and I hope the Senator will support this bill and any other legislation to establish loan forgiveness that may come to the Senate floor. Thank you for your time." (Copyright 2008, American Counseling Association)
"ACA advocacy letters and stakeholder groups"
"Bills unpassed; loan forgiveness unavailable"
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