Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Facilitating cross-state practice of psychology through education and awareness of effective telehealth and licensure regulation strategies. Application for Funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Human Resources and Services Administration Office for the Advancement of Telehealth Announcement #: HRSA-24-011 Grant Program Funds Requested: $500,000 Submitted by Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) PO Box 849 Tyrone, GA 30269 Project Director: Janet Orwig, MBA, CAE Associate Executive Officer Member Services, ASPPB Phone: 678-216-1175 Fax: 678-216-1176 Email: jorwig@asppb.org Web Address: www.asppb.net Access to mental health services is a critical national public health crisis. One of the main barriers to access mental health care is the lack of awareness of available portability options for qualified psychologists. Licensure in psychology, as in other healthcare professions, is based on state licensing laws and systems for the identification and credentialing of competent practitioners, and for regulating their professional conduct once licensed. A necessary precondition to expanding access to mental health services while still providing effective regulation is the awareness of available tools to lessen regulatory barriers. Although ASPPB has had great success in addressing many of the regulatory barriers, there remains a strong need for education to be developed for the public, state psychology licensing boards, psychologists, state legislatures, and other stakeholders. Through this project, ASPPB, as a competing continuation applicant, will expand upon the efforts of previous grant funded activities of the Centre for Data and Analysis on Psychology Licensure (Centre) and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) to develop a cohesive educational and outreach strategy for students, licensed psychologists, state psychology licensing boards, and state legislatures to e ducate them on continuing developments in licensure portability. Through education and outreach, students and psychology professionals will be able to better understand licensure requirements, application, and renewal processes, along with a better knowledge of viable portability options. Public outreach will focus on providing tools to assist with the identification of qualified psychologists to meet the specific mental health needs of the consumer. Ultimately, this would aid in reducing barriers to licensure by increasing the number of vetted psychology professionals able to provide critical mental health services and allowing the public to locate appropriate psychologists. This insight will have a direct impact on the reduction of statutory and regulatory barriers to licensure and telehealth as psychology licensing boards work to increase access to care and meet the evolving needs of the profession.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
