QUICK ACTION NEEDED ON FY 2001 FUNDING FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM!

BACKGROUND

The original Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act (ESCDA) was first AUTHORIZED (created) as part of the Improving America's Schools Act (Public Law 103-382) in 1994 -- the bill which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. [For more information on the ESCDA, please see website entries under Advocacy for January and February 2000.] The fall of 1999 was the first time Congress APPROPRIATED funding for the program (so it can actually operate). The $20 million appropriated was for FY 2000 (October 1999-September 2000). Grant applications for the $20 million in funding became available on Tuesday, April 18, 2000 (see below). The application deadline is June 9, 2000.

 CONGRESSIONAL STATUS

Congress is now in the lengthy process of APPROPRIATING funding for programs for the NEXT fiscal year, FY 2001 (October 2000-September 2001). Without new funding for next year, the first round of grants for the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act (ESCDA) will also be the last round of grants. For FY 2001, NASW is advocating for $100 million for the ESCDA -- in part to anticipate the PROPOSED expansion to secondary schools (the current ESCDA only covers elementary schools), but also to better meet the need. The $20 million for FY 2000 will not go far. Only around 60 of the 14,000 school districts across the country will receive an ESCDA grant this fiscal year.

A letter signed by 82 Members of the House of Representatives (80 Democrats & 2 Republicans--Nancy Johnson, CT and Connie Morella, MD) supporting our call for $100 million for the ESCDA was delivered to House appropriators on April 20, 2000. The so-called "Dear Colleague" letter was circulated by Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL). Members who signed the letter -- which include all four social worker Members of the House (Barbara Lee, CA; Debbie Stabenow, MI; Ed Towns, NY; Ciro Rodriquez, TX) -- follow (by state).

Contacts with Members of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations SUBCOMMITTEES would be the most helpful if made by MAY 10 -- date scheduled for House Subcommittee consideration of funding levels for programs under its jurisdiction. Contacts with Members of the FULL Appropriations Committees would be most helpful if made by MAY 24 -- date scheduled for full House Committee action on funding levels. However, please be aware that these dates may slip.

Please let Cynthia Woodside know who you contact and what, if any, feedback you receive. Cynthia's contact information is at the end of this email.

ACTION NEEDED

1. Contacts with Members of Congress who sit on the House and Senate Appropriations SUBCOMMITTEES on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education are the most critical. Subcommittee members have PRIMARY jurisdiction over funding for the ESCDA. (Roster follows.)
2. Contacts with Members of Congress who sit on the FULL House or Senate Appropriations Committee also are extremely important. (Roster follows.)
3. If your Representative(s) and/or Senators are NOT Members of the Appropriations Committees and did NOT sign the "Dear Colleague" letter, please ask for their support and for them to voice their support to the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee or full Committee. If they have signed the "Dear Colleague" letter, THANK them for their support.

As a school social worker concerned that every child in (your city/county, and state) has an opportunity to pursue academic excellence in a safe and healthy environment,

On behalf of the (# of members) of the (state) Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, who believe every child in (state) has a right to pursue academic excellence in a safe and healthy environment,

I urge you to provide $100 million in funding for FY 2001 for the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act (ESCDA). The ESCDA, authorized under Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was funded at $20 million in FY 2000, but this funding will only provide grants to approximately 60 of our nation's 14,000 public school districts. Additional funding will help more of our schools prevent school violence and more of our students reach high levels of academic achievement.

Through the ESCDA, a discretionary grant program targeted to meet the greatest need, schools can initiate or expand comprehensive school counseling programs. The model on which the ESCDA is based, Smoother Sailing, has been proven to (1) decrease the use of weapons, force and threats against others; (2) decrease school suspensions; (3) decrease the number of referrals to the principal's office by nearly half; and (4) make students feel safer. In addition, comprehensive school counseling programs, staffed by qualified school social workers and other mental health professionals, help improve students' academic achievement. Studies on the effects of small group counseling for failing elementary school students found that 83 percent of participating students showed improved grades.

Failure to provide needed counseling and other mental health services results in equally compelling outcomes. Of the 7.5 million children under the age of 18 who require mental health services only 20 percent receive them. Of those students who most need, but do not receive, mental health services, 48 percent drop out of school. Of those who drop out of school, 73 percent are arrested within five years.

While $100 million cannot provide all students with the counseling services they need and deserve, it certainly can increase the number of schools and students who will benefit from safer classrooms and better grades. I look forward to your support. Thank you.

CONTACTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

House Appropriations Committee and Other Representatives

Phone: All Members can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard 202-225-3121.

Mail: The Honorable (first name, last name), U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; Dear Representative (last name):

Email: Addresses can be accessed through www.house.gov

Senate Appropriations Committee and Other Senators

Phone: All Members can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121.

Mail: The Honorable (first name, last name), United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator (last name):

Email: Addresses can be accessed through www.senate.gov

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!