Loading

The Time is Now. Scroll for your August Campaign e-News.

~

State Budget Updates

The FY22 State Budget has been signed!

The Campaign's advocacy has yielded a budget that prioritizes kids' behavioral health needs:

The budget also includes resources we've been advocating for that address emergency department (ED) boarding, including:

  • $10M for Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) for children and adolescents,
  • $5M for loan forgiveness, including $3M for child and adolescent psychiatrists in community mental health centers and community health centers, and
  • $2.5M to address ED boarding through staffing investments, and rate incentives, prioritizing grants to address child and adolescent boarding.

There are also investments in student behavioral health consistent with our advocacy, including:

  • $15M to support after school and summer programs to address learning loss, prioritizing grants to applicant districts whose plans incorporate addressing the social emotional, behavioral health, and trauma needs of students
  • $6M in one time grants to districts and educational collaboratives to adapt, expand or strengthen multi-tiered systems of support to respond to the social emotional and behavioral health needs of students, families and educators, with $1M earmarked to pilot universal K-12 mental health screening alongside the creation of a student mental health support team.

The final budget also includes the establishment of a special commission to develop recommendations and best practices for public safety response to mental health emergencies in Massachusetts.

This commission will include a representative from the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH), a member of the Campaign team.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our champions in the state house who worked tirelessly to ensure the needs of children and families were at the forefront. A huge thank you, as well, to all of our supporters for participating in action alerts, staying up to date and informed, and making sure your voice was heard at every step. We could not have done it without you.

children's Behavioral health resources & Updates.

MAMH Blog: BIPOC Mental Health Month reminds us why we need culturally responsive mental health services

Many existing models used to diagnose and treat mental health conditions fail to recognize or address cultural differences or language barriers. Even the best-intentioned providers may bring implicit bias that affects how they perceive the person’s needs and strengths.

Return to School 2021: What Families Need to Know about Student Rights and School Discipline

PPAL is very excited to host a virtual learning series to address school reopening worries which resulted from or were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This introduction to school discipline and student rights will be offered twice, will be an overview of federal and state laws relevant to school discipline, as applied to students with and without disabilities. 

MHAP for Kids is hiring!

Health Law Advocates (HLA) has opportunities for five staff attorneys to join the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids). MHAP for Kids attorneys are embedded in Family Resource Centers (FRCs) around the state. They are seeking five highly qualified, motivated lawyers with knowledge of the juvenile court, mental health, and/or education systems to join the talented MHAP for Kids team as our staff attorneys serving Bristol, Middlesex, and Worcester counties as well as the Cape and Islands.

Your Headlines.
For Biles to make the decision to prioritize her own health and safety, in the face of enormous pressure to win, showed an immense amount of courage. This can be an example for our children about how, even in a world that glorifies winning at all costs, we are more than our successes.
Sign up for Action Alerts.

Take action for kids' behavioral health by signing up for our advocacy alerts, newsletters, and invitations to future events!

Thank you!