This agenda reflects NATSAP's dedication to ensuring the highest standards of safety and care in therapeutic treatment programs, advocating for regulatory changes, supporting research, and promoting professional standards in the industry. By pursuing these goals, we aim to enhance the well-being of individuals in need of therapeutic care and the professionals who serve them.

Federal Legislation Regarding Residential Treatment Centers

• Advocate for the adoption of comprehensive legislation and collaborate with lawmakers, experts, and stakeholders to gain a sponsor for bill introduction.    
  • NATSAP's drafted legislation language outlines baseline safety standards in therapeutic treatment programs. It aims to eliminate abuse in programs, defining standards in areas like safety measures, staff training, medication administration protocols, staff-to-child ratios, parental consent for care, and more, and ensure individuals seeking therapeutic care are treated with dignity and respect.   
•  Support and advocate for the “Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act”.    
  •  This bill seeks to combat child abuse in institutional settings by establishing a Federal Work Group on Youth Residential Programs to enhance best practices, data collection, and safety measures.
• Partner with state-based advocacy organizations and licensing departments to promote positive changes in the therapeutic care industry.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Mental Health

• Support and advocate for the “Mental Health Parity Compliance Act”.    
  •  This bill seeks to ensure equal treatment for mental health and substance use disorder benefits within health plans. It aims to address disparities, promote equitable access, and eliminate discriminatory limitations to these essential treatments.
• Support and advocate for the "Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act”.    
  •  This bill grants funds to eligible health centers, prioritizing hiring professionals proficient in languages beyond English. This aims to bridge language barriers for diverse communities seeking mental health care, aligning with DEI principles by reducing access barriers for individuals from different linguistic backgrounds.
• Support and advocate for the "Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act”.    
  •  This bill aims to improve access to mental health services for marginalized communities by proposing a program to alleviate mental health workforce shortages that offers repayments to professionals who commit to working in shortage areas. Addressing workforce shortages in underserved areas strives to provide better mental health services to diverse populations facing mental health care access barriers.

Interstate Licensure Compacts

• Advocate for the creation and adoption of an interstate licensure compact for professionals in therapeutic treatment programs, in partnership with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), American Counseling Association (ACA) Interstate Counseling Compact, and PSYPACT® - The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.
•  Click here to use our NASW Legislative Support Toolkit
•  Click here to use our ACA Legislative Support Toolkit
•  Click here to use our PSYPACT Legislative Support Toolkit

Scope of Practice

• Conduct legislative research informing the development of guidelines and recommendations for therapeutic and education professionals working in therapeutic treatment programs.