Happy New Year,
I wanted to share some exciting news on the geriatric mental health workforce front!
Following a year-long advocacy campaign, the Public Interest Government Relations Office (PI-GRO) (in conjunction with other professional associations) successfully worked with Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), to designate $900,000 in the report language that accompanied the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3293) to fund an Institute of Medicine (IOM) study focused on the geriatric mental health workforce.
Specifically, this new study will provide 1) a systematic and trend analysis of the current and projected mental and behavioral healthcare needs of the American people, particularly for aging and growing ethnic populations; and 2) policy recommendations for achieving a competent and well-trained mental health workforce to address those needs. This new mental health focused study will serve as a welcome companion to the April 2008 IOM report on broader geriatric health care workforce issues.
For a comprehensive background regarding our activities related to the 2008 and the upcoming IOM geriatric workforce studies please see the March 2010 APA Communiqué <http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/index.aspx> or the April 2010 issue of the APA Aging Issues Newsletter <http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/newsletter/index.aspx> .
In the coming weeks, PI-GRO, along with representatives of other key mental health organizations, will be meeting with leaders from the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the implementation of the upcoming study and learn more about how APA and our members can serve as resources. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Many thanks,
Diane
Diane Elmore, PhD, MPH
Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer
Director, Congressional Fellowship Program
Government Relations Office
Public Interest Directorate
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Tel: (202) 336-6104 | Fax: (202) 336-6063
Email: delmore@apa.org <mailto:delmore@apa.org>
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