Driving Systemic Change for Student Mental Health

At the Student Therapy Access Project (STAP), our mission extends beyond school-based services. We are committed to transforming Maryland’s approach to youth mental health through meaningful, data-driven legislative advocacy.

Why Legislation Matters

While individual programs create change school by school, legislation has the power to create

change statewide and eventually nationwide.

Strong Policy Can:

Guarantee every student access to essential mental-health support
Provide sustainable state funding for school-based therapists
Require annual mental-health checkups (just like required physicals)
Ensure equitable access for students regardless of income, background, or community
Reduce long-term social and economic impacts of untreated mental-health issues

We advocate for laws that protect students, empower families, and strengthen schools.

Our Legislative Priorities

1. Mandated Yearly Mental-Health Checkups

We support legislation that requires yearly mental-health screenings for all

public-school students, funded by state or county resources.
Just as students must submit physical exams for enrollment, mental-health care should be a standard

part of supporting child development.

2. State-Funded School-Based Mental-Health Services

We advocate for ongoing funding to place licensed therapists directly inside schools so students

can access care immediately, not after long waitlists or insurance barriers.

3. Confidentiality & Ethical Protections

We promote policies that strengthen privacy protections—including HIPAA and the Maryland Confidentiality

of Medical Records Act—to ensure students feel safe seeking support.

4. Expansion of Early Intervention Programs

We support legislation that encourages early identification of mental-health concerns, trauma-informed

school practices, and better crisis-prevention systems.

How We Advocate

STAP works closely with educators, policymakers, mental-health professionals, and families to push meaningful change forward.

Our advocacy approach includes:

Meeting with legislators and presenting research-based proposals
Offering student-centered policy recommendations
Providing expert testimony at hearings
Building coalitions with community organizations
Sharing data and success stories from schools
Mobilizing parents and educators to support policy adoption

We transform data, student needs, and community voices into actionable legislative goals.

For Policymakers

We welcome collaboration with elected officials who share our commitment to improving student mental health. If you are a legislator, staff member, or government partner interested in reviewing our proposals, please review our policy brief and get in contact with us via phone or email HERE!