See below.
Deborah DiGilio, MPH
Director, Office on Aging
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-6135
(202) 336-6040 FAX
DDiGilio@apa.org
http://www.apa.org/pi/aging
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Urge Your Representative to Support the Minority Fellowship Program
Take Action!
Take Action Today!
Dear Colleagues,
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The President's FY 2009 budget proposes to eliminate the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), which has been in existence for 33 years. This very important program has been instrumental in addressing the shortage of mental health services for racial and ethnic minority communities. As a result of the President's FY 2009 budget, we are requesting that the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee save this vital program by appropriating $6 million for FY 2009 for the MFP within the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The Congressional Mental Health Caucus, which is co-chaired by Representatives Grace Napolitano and Tim Murphy, has drafted a letter soliciting support for the MFP by requesting each member of Congress to sign on and demonstrate that this program is critical in helping to eliminate health disparities. Please contact your Representative TODAY and urge them to sign on to the letter so that we can increase funding for the MFP.
TAKE ACTION:
Please e-mail your member of Congress immediately and urge him/her to save the MFP and increase funding for it by signing on to the letter being circulated by Representatives Napolitano and Murphy, which will be sent to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Thank you for taking time to respond and advocate for this great program.
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUE:
The mental health needs of ethnic minorities in the United States have been, and continue to be, grossly underserved. Studies have shown that minorities receive less mental health treatment and treatment that is of a lower quality than other populations. While the mental health and substance use needs in racial and ethnic minority communities are substantial, there is a critical shortage of mental health professionals to serve these communities. The MFP has been instrumental in increasing the number of racial and ethnic minority psychologists delivering mental health services to minority communities and promoting culturally competent mental health services provided to minority populations.
Ethnic minorities everywhere, especially in underserved areas, face additional challenges in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals in the public sector. Studies indicate minority mental health professionals practice in underserved areas at a higher rate than non-minorities. The need to maintain the MFP program has never been stronger.
The MFP is a necessary and valuable part of addressing the shortage of quality and accessible mental health services. Terminating this program would greatly diminish opportunities for minority students to become mental health care providers and return to our communities to address critical disparities in service delivery.
Thank you for your support as we work together to save and increase funding for the Minority Fellowship Program. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Daniel E. Dawes, J.D., at ddawes@apa.org or (202) 682-5110.
Sincerely,
Public Interest Government Relations Office
