Washington, DC, January 23, 2025  – President Donald Trump has nominated new leadership within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). New leadership inevitably brings new priorities, some of which may differ from those of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and its members. While this transition presents challenges, it also offers an opportunity to educate federal leaders on the critical importance of policies that support access to pediatric mental health care and to cultivate new mental health policy champions across the Administration.

Federal health agencies are entrusted with representing the American people by providing coverage, oversight, and regulation of healthcare—guided solely by their mission and responsibilities, irrespective of the perspectives of their leaders. Our nation has made significant progress in advancing a more accessible and equitable mental health care system, and it is imperative that this progress continues.

AACAP remains steadfast in its core policy priorities: achieving full parity for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, increasing access to children's behavioral health services, and strengthening the child and adolescent psychiatry workforce. As mental health care providers and educators, we have a responsibility to ensure that child and adolescent mental health remains a priority for the new Administration and the 119th Congress. We expect the new Administration to recognize the gravity of our nation’s mental health crisis and to play an active role in implementing solutions that benefit all youth, regardless of race, gender identity, faith, or socioeconomic status.

AACAP looks forward to collaborating with the Administration to advance these goals.

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry promotes the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are the leading physician authority on children’s mental health. For more information, please visit www.aacap.org