December, 2009
Congress Provides Funding Increases for Key Mental Health Programs
Hard Work Pays Off For Advocates
Advocacy for funding increases for mental health supports, services and research is an all-year, every-year endeavor. Mental Health America is excited to report that our network of affiliates and advocates paved the way in reaching our goal of increased funding. Your hard work—responding to our alerts, setting up District/State visits and participating in Capitol Hill day—and leadership from Congress resulted in significant funding increases to help meet the critical needs of millions of individuals with, or at risk of, mental health conditions.
Download Conference Appropriations Chart PDF
Congress moved a step closer to finishing work on appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010 by passing the conference report on the omnibus funding measure (HR 3288) by a vote of 221-202 on Thursday, December 10. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 57-35 on Sunday, December 13.
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
Congress more than doubled the Administration’s funding increase request for mental health services and supports at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—from $17 million to $36 million. The $36 million increase pushed funding for CMHS past a $1 billion for the first time.
The funding increases for CMHS include:
- $13 million increase for Children’s Mental Health to provide children who have mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders with community-based care and supports;
- $5 million increase for State homelessness (PATH) grants to provide homeless and seriously mentally ill individuals with community-based support services;
- $7 million increase to double an initiative that integrates primary and behavioral health care for an estimated 3 million Americans with severe mental illnesses;
- $5 million increase for Project Launch, designed to promote wellness in young children;
- $1.5 million increase for suicide prevention efforts; and
- $2.8 million increase for addressing the needs of children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Other Key SAMHSA Increases:
- $20 million increase for the Substance Abuse Block Grant;
- $40.3 million increase in substance abuse treatment, mainly for drug treatment courts; and
- $1.2 million increase for substance abuse prevention.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Congress exceeded the Administration’s 2 percent increase request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The funding increases for NIH include:
- $39 million increase for the National Institute of Mental Health;
- $27 million increase for the National Institute on Drug Abuse; and
- $12 million increase for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Other Crucial Programs:
Housing: Congress provided a $50 million increase for Section 811 Supportive Housing (from $250 million to $300 million). The Administration had proposed level funding.
Juvenile Justice: Congress provided a roughly $45 million increase for juvenile justice programs (from nearly $300 million to slightly over $345 million). The Administration had proposed level funding.
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act: Congress provided a $2 million increase for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction grant program (from $10 million to $12 million). The Administration had proposed level funding.
About the Advocacy Network
Mental Health America’s Advocacy Network is a powerful voice for change that is made up of thousands of individuals nationwide who take an active role in protecting America’s mental health through legislative advocacy. Together, we speak out and make our voice heard on equal access to care, federal funding, treatment and prevention.
