New Rules Could Hurt Mental Health Workers in New Jersey

New Jersey's mental health workforce is in trouble. A recent proposal by the U. S. Department of Education could make it harder for people to become counselors and social workers. These professionals need special training and degrees to do their jobs. They also have to follow strict rules and pass exams. But the new rules could make it harder for them to get the money they need for school. The problem is with something called the RISE framework. It changes how much money students can borrow for school. Right now, students can borrow a lot of money for professional degrees. But the new rules would make it so they can only borrow a little. This could stop many people from becoming mental health workers. New Jersey already has a shortage of these workers. A recent study showed that the state could be short more than 60, 000 workers by 2023. The new rules could make this problem even worse. It could also make it harder for people from poor or marginalized communities to become workers. This would make the workforce less diverse.The new rules could also change how schools teach these programs. Schools might not be able to offer as many programs if they don't get enough money. This could hurt the people who need mental health services the most. But the rules aren't final yet. The Department of Education has to listen to public comments before they make a final decision. People can go to the Department of Education's website to leave comments. They can also call their state representatives to tell them how they feel. It's important for people to speak up now. The more people who speak up, the more likely it is that the rules will change. People can find their representatives on the New Jersey Legislature website. They can also learn more about the issue on the National Board for Certified Counselors' website.