Bill Overview
Title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish internship programs relating to behavioral health, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish paid predoctoral and postdoctoral internship programs for the purpose of training licensed officials (e.g., licensed professional counselors) to work as VA behavioral health providers at VA medical facilities. As a condition of participating in such an internship program, the participant must enter into an agreement with the VA to work on a full-time basis as a behavioral health provider for a period of time that is at least equivalent to the period of participation in the internship program.
Sponsors: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Target Audience
Population: People who will benefit from improved behavioral health services through VA
Estimated Size: 7500000
- The bill aims to establish VA internship programs for predoctoral and postdoctoral students in behavioral health.
- The program is designed to train licensed professionals, such as licensed professional counselors, to work as VA behavioral health providers.
- The main target population will be veterans who require behavioral health services, as this will increase the number of available providers.
- Additionally, the predoctoral and postdoctoral students participating in the program are impacted as they gain paid internship opportunities and future employment at the VA.
- Upon completion of their training, these professionals are required to work within the VA system for a time, thus impacting their career paths.
- Enhancing the behavioral health services within the VA will likely improve the overall well-being of U.S. veterans by addressing mental health issues effectively.
Reasoning
- The policy targets predoctoral and postdoctoral students in behavioral health, making training and employment opportunities more accessible for them. This directly impacts their career paths by providing paid internships and job opportunities post-training at VA facilities.
- The budget constraints impose limitations on the number of internships offered, requiring careful selection of applicants and targeted placement at facilities with the greatest need.
- The majority of impacted individuals are U.S. veterans, who will potentially receive better-quality behavioral health care due to the increased staffing.
- Veterans accessing VA services are a broad and varied group, including people who have adjusted well post-service and those struggling with extensive mental health issues, hence a varied impact depending on personal circumstances.
- The direct effect on veterans' Cantril wellbeing scores should manifest as improved scores if the policy increases provider availability, reduces wait times, and improves care quality.
Simulated Interviews
Predoctoral student in Counselling Psychology (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me a great opportunity to gain practical experience and financial stability during training.
- Working with veterans is exactly what I want to do, so committing to the VA post-internship aligns with my career goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, retired (Seattle, WA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more trained professionals at VA centers sounds promising.
- I'm hopeful this will reduce wait times for treatments and improve service quality.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Licensed Professional Counselor (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program can be a good transition into specialized services for veterans, which is a field I've always been interested in.
- There seems to be good job security with the VA post-certification.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Veteran, Volunteer Peer Counselor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see initiatives that address our community's mental health issues.
- I hope the policy also focuses on culturally competent care for diverse veterans.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Social Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced training for behavioral health providers is crucial for the VA.
- I might consider applying if the program expands, but currently content with my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The VA internship seems like a fantastic stepping-stone into my desired field of work.
- Securing a job post-training is a significant plus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Nurse, Veteran (Chicago, IL)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The prospect of more timely services is welcome.
- I'm eager to see if new providers bring fresh perspectives.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student in Psychology (Austin, TX)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more opportunities to intern at the VA would be ideal for my career path.
- It's encouraging to see the commitment to training future specialists.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran Affairs Counselor (Columbus, OH)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might help us not be overburdened as more interns could ease our workload.
- I hope this helps improve service delivery significantly.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Clinical Psychologist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great for broadening the pool of experienced mental health professionals at the VA.
- I've considered a full-time position with the VA if opportunities like this arise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 2: $12500000 (Low: $8500000, High: $16500000)
Year 3: $13000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $17000000)
Year 5: $14000000 (Low: $9500000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $15500000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy would necessitate creating a robust system for supervising and supporting intern training at VA facilities.
- Ensuring the quality of training to meet professional licensure standards is crucial for program success.
- The program's success in retaining professionals post-training depends on the managed work environment, salaries, and benefits.