Health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities

Section 597 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ll) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Best practices; core competencies An individual receiving a fellowship under subsection (a), or an entity selected by the Assistant Secretary to administer the program under this section, may use amounts awarded under this section to engage in the following activities related to the development and dissemination of best practices or core competencies addressing mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups for use in the training of students in the professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, addiction medicine, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance misuse counseling: (1) Formation of committees or working groups comprised of experts from accredited health professions schools to identify best practices and core competencies relating to mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups. (2) Planning of workshops in national fora to allow for public input into the educational needs associated with mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups. (3) Dissemination and promotion of the use of best practices or core competencies in undergraduate and graduate health professions training programs nationwide. (4) Establishing external advisory boards to provide meaningful input into policy and program development and best practices to reduce mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.; and (3) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by striking 2027 and inserting 2031.