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House Level-Funds Most Community Mental Health Programs

Ask Senators Now to Narrow the Services Gap with Increased Funding

(June 29, 2005)— The House of Representatives on June 24 passed an appropriations bill (H.R. 3010) for fiscal year 2006 funding Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs and services. Members essentially ignored the need for more dollars to meet the increased treatment needs of children and adults with serious mental illnesses.

The President’s budget had proposed no new funding for SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and deep cuts to its discretionary budget, referred to as the Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS). The House went along with the President on level funding, but restored the cuts to the PRNS.

Advocates have a second chance to forestall further cuts and press for needed increases when the Senate Committee with jurisdiction over these programs reviews its bill – probably the week of July 11.

Community-Based Mental Health Services Funded at FY 2005 Levels

The House approved $433 million – the current level, requested by the President – for the largest CMHS program: mental health block grants to states for comprehensive community mental health services to adults with serious mental illnesses and children with severe emotional disturbances.

The other major CMHS line items were also funded at last year’s levels, mirroring the President’s numbers:

• children’s mental health services program, $105.2 million, and
• the PATH grant program that provides services to people with severe mental illnesses who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, $54.8 million.
Both programs received modest increases in the last two fiscal years.

The House also froze funding, at $34.3 million, for the protection and advocacy system that provides legal assistance to individuals with mental disorders.

House Restores Some Funding

The President’s request had slotted the CMHS discretionary budget, which funds various demonstration grants under the PRNS, for $64 million in cuts, from $274 million in FY ‘05 to $210 million for FY ‘06. Among programs to be slashed were the jail diversion grant program and the youth anti-violence initiative (Safe Schools and Healthy Students). Other PRNS-funded programs, such as seniors’ mental health services, suicide prevention and post traumatic stress disorders programs, would have received no new funds under the President’s proposal.

The House restored much of the funding to these important programs:
• jail diversion, $7 million;
• seniors’ mental health services, $5 million;
• Safe Schools and Healthy Students, $84 million;
• suicide prevention, $16.5 million; and
• post traumatic stress disorders ($29.8 million).
The PRNS is a vital source of funding for programs that translate research science into best-practices applications at the state and local levels.

Only Increase Is for State Plans

The only program targeted for an increase is the State Incentive Transformation Grants (SIGs), first funded last fiscal year, at $20 million. Both the President’s budget and the House supported an additional $6 million for fiscal year 2006. Unfortunately, the increase will not fund any services; rather, it is targeted for development of state interagency collaborative plans.

What You Can Do

Contact members of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee (members listed below). Soon after the July 4th recess, these Senators will review appropriations for CMHS community-based mental health services and programs.
It will take a constant grassroots push from the mental health community throughout the congressional appropriations cycle to prevent cuts to crucial programs and services – at a time when increased support is so desperately needed.

Take action Now!

Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of one or more of the Senators listed below. Or during the July 4 recess, contact their state office. If you’re a constituent, be sure to say so.
Tell them that, although you understand the need for a tight budget, adults and children with serious mental disorders already suffer too much for lack of community-based mental health services. Now only the Senate can help narrow the treatment gap.
Ask these Senators to increase, not cut, funding for the Center for Mental Health Services programs in their appropriation for SAMHSA.

Senate Committee Members
Arlen Specter (R-PA)-Chair
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Larry Craig (R-ID)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)- Ranking
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Herbert Kohl (D-WI)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)

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