Fifty percent of people with a diagnosable mental health disorder receive a diagnosis by 14 years old, 75% before 24 years old, and many experience symptoms long before that. Approximately 70% of children in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental disorder. Treating these illnesses with early interventions not only greatly helps those children, but saves billions of dollars in spending down the road. The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) supports mental health in schools, as well as childhood trauma and CHIP policies.
Issue statements from past Congresses appear below. For statements from the current session of Congress, view the families and children issue statements page.
- Confidentiality and Immigration Hearing Evaluation, 2.28.2020: The Mental Health Liaison Group requests that the House and Senate convene oversight hearings and evaluate the impact of the sharing of confidential therapy records on detained children.
- MHLG Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention (STANDUP) Act, 12.2.19: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Senate leadership expressing support for Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Senator Doug Jones’s (D-AL) bipartisan S. 2492, the STANDUP Act.
- MHLG Mental Health Services for Students Act, 4.17.19: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Senator Smith to support the Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019, S. 1122.
- MHLG Mental Health Services for Students Act, 8.2.18: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Senator Smith to support the Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2018, S. 3337.
- MHLG Supports Five Year CHIP Funding Extension, 9.15.17: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging them to stabilize the CHIP funding stream and protect children’s health coverage.
- MHLG Supports Mental Health in Schools Act (H.R. 2913), 9.11.17: A Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Representatives Napolitano and Katko in support of their Act, which would advance a public health approach to mental health services in schools, as well as save money by investing in early intervention programs.
- MHLG Advocates Long-Term Funding Extension of CHIP, 4.28.17: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging them to enact swift legislation extending funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, ensuring millions of children do not lose coverage in FY2018.
- MHLG Expresses Support for Mental Health Provisions in Healthcare Package Currently Advancing through the House – 11.29.16: A letter to House leaders expressing support for mental health reform provisions in healthcare package and urging that these be passed quickly.
- MHLG Expresses Support for Children’s Recovery from Trauma Act of 2015 – 07.16.15: A letter to Patty Murray expresses support for S. 1494 that will make improvements to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
- MHLG Expresses Support for Children’s Recovery from Trauma Act of 2015 – 07.14.15: A letter to members of the House in support of H.R. 2632 that will make improvements to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
- MHLG Expresses Support fort the Mental Health in Schools Act – 03.25.15: A letter to Grace Napolitano and Chris Gibson showing support for H.R. 1211 to make comprehensive school-based mental health services available for students across America.
- MHLG Urges Congressional Leaders to Provide a 4-Year Extension for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – 03.13.15: A letter to Senate leaders and committee chairs urging them to expand the CHIP for 4 more years.
- MHLG Expresses Support for Provisions in House and Senate-passed Bills that Reauthorize State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – 09.06.07: Letters to member of the House and Senate expressing gratitude and support for the reauthorization of SCHIP in the passed health bill.
- MHLG Thanks Senate Members for Introducing Children’s Mental Health Parity Act into the State Children’s Health Insurance Program – 05.29.07: A letter to multiple senators commending them for introducing Children’s Mental Health Parity Act (S.1337) into the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which would require equitable coverage of mental health services.
- MHLG Urges House Members to Ensure that SCHIP Provides Equitable coverage of Mental Health Services – 03.07.07: A letter to House leaders urging them to ensure coverage of mental health services in SCHIP, as they are key components of the full range of services needed for healthy childhood development.