Mental Health Notes Etc. April 14, 2009

Urge your Senators to support an increase in the Mental Health Services Block Grant by $100 million. Senator Debbie Stabenow [D-Mi] is leading an effort in the Senate to increase funding for the Mental Health Services Block Grant by $100 million in FY 2010. The Senator is circulating a Dear Colleague letter asking for signatures on a letter she intends to send to Senators Harkin and Spector, the chair and ranking member of the Labor-HHS subcommittee of the Senate Appropriat6ions Committee.

The Mental Health Services Block Grant [MHBG] has lost 50% of its purchasing -power since 1983. The program has not received any additional federal funds in almost a decade and the severe economic crisis is imposing a strain on the public mental health safety net,

Due to this, a $100million increase is strongly supported. This requested increase would bring its total funding to $520.7 million.

The Obama Administration hit the ground running in January, successfully moving through Co0ngress several major pieces of legislation including significant health care provisions. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act [ARRA] enacted on February 17^th included substantial funding to maintain health care coverage and a number of other initiatives considered elements of health care reform.