FY26 – Key Successes:

House 1 contained $26M in proposed cuts to Line Items #5042-5000 and #5095-0015. The CMHC successfully ensured funding for critical DMH Child and Adolescent Services in these areas:

• $15.3M for intensive psychiatric residential treatment programs, impacting Clinically Intensive Residential Treatment (CIRT) for children ages 6-12 years and Intensive Residential Treatment Program (IRTP) for adolescents ages 13-18
  • Protecting the only one 12-bed program for this age group in the entire state
• $10.6M for community-based programs ($5.2M in Flexible Supports & $5.4M in PACT-Y), impacting ED boarding and services dedicated to keeping youth in their home and communities instead of institutions

 

Additionally, CMHC successfully advocated for resources for long standing programs that were under the threat of cuts, including: 

• $5M for Mental Health Consultation in Early Education and Care Settings
• $3.3M for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids
• $500K for the School-Based Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center
• $4.375M ($674K for MCPAP for Moms & $500K for MCPAP for Schools)=

 

FY27 – Coming Soon:

Ensuring stable and adequate funding for critical services is essential to the well-being of Massachusetts’ children and families and a top priority for the Children’s Mental Health Campaign. CMHC tracks a number of key line items and earmarks in the budget in order to advocate for all children to have access to resources to prevent, diagnose, and treat behavioral health issues in a timely, effective, and compassionate way.