HB 1721 - DIGEST

Requires the University of Washington school of social work, in collaboration with the University of Washington department of psychology, the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences division of public behavioral health and justice policy, to establish a certificate program in evidence-based dialectical behavior therapy practices that have shown to be effective in treating patients with mental health disorders and those at risk of suicide.

Requires the planning committee to: (1) Include whether a credentialed health care professional has a certificate in dialectical behavior therapy in its criteria; and

(2) Devote fifty percent of the loan repayment awards to credentialed health care professionals who are employed in a designated health professional shortage area and providing behavioral health services.

Requires the office of student financial assistance, in consultation with an organization that certifies health care professionals in dialectical behavior therapy, to award conditional scholarships to graduate students and credentialed health care professionals enrolled in dialectical behavior therapy certificate programs.