Bill Overview
Title: Advancing Student Services In Schools Today Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to, among others, local educational agencies to increase the number of mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools and school-based health centers. It also increases the federal government's share of Medicaid costs for behavioral health services furnished in those settings.
Sponsors: Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Target Audience
Population: School-aged children worldwide
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill focuses on increasing mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools.
- The inclusion of school-based health centers suggests services are targeted at school-aged children.
- The bill offers grants to local educational agencies, so it is aimed at impacting students directly.
- The increase in federal Medicaid cost sharing indicates a focus on low-income students, who are more likely to be on Medicaid.
Reasoning
- The ASSIST Act is expected to primarily impact school-aged students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds who may rely on Medicaid.
- Since the bill provides funding for mental health and substance use care providers within schools, benefits will be direct and potentially immediate for students accessing these services.
- The policy is anticipated to indirectly impact teachers and families as well, though more substantially for students who directly engage with mental health services.
- Given the broad scope of schools nationwide, implementation and impact will vary by region, as some areas will see more immediate or pronounced benefits.
- The policy has a budget constraint that may limit the number of additional care providers added, influencing how widespread the benefits are.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often feel stressed and anxious but trying to talk to someone about it in school is hard because appointments are so limited.
- I think having more counselors around could really make a difference for students like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School Counselor (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our students desperately need more support than what our current counseling staff can provide.
- If the ASSIST Act can help us hire more people, I genuinely think we can change lives here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- School can be tough, and I feel like sometimes I have nobody to talk to that understands what I'm going through.
- I hope the policy means I can find someone who speaks Spanish and can help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Teacher (Dallas, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Many of my students would benefit if they had consistent access to mental health professionals.
- I support the ASSIST Act because it could help with classroom management by addressing root causes of disruptive behavior.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Social Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding for mental health services is necessary for the student's mental well-being and academic success.
- The ASSIST Act is a step in the right direction for educational equality and health equity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping the school will be able to offer more frequent check-ins and therapy sessions. Right now, demand is just too high.
- If they can hire more people, maybe it won’t feel like I’m stuck waiting forever.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
School Principal (Rural Montana)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The rural location makes it hard to attract qualified mental health providers; funding could really change that.
- Expanding Medicaid coverage will help many families access the services without worrying about cost.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Psychologist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our team is stretched thin, but increasing our capacity would have an immediate and real impact.
- The increase in Medicaid cost-sharing is a huge relief for families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see a lot of students who would benefit from more mental health support.
- Policies like the ASSIST Act are crucial for future generations' well-being.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 12 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sometimes school is tough because I can't focus, and there aren't many people to help me.
- I think it would be nice to have more people to talk to.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $310000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $360000000)
Year 3: $320000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $370000000)
Year 5: $340000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Year 100: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the grants in genuinely expanding access to needed services across diverse regions and populations.
- The ability to recruit and retain qualified mental health professionals in educational settings.
- Potential for coordination issues between the Department of Health and Human Services and local educational agencies.