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CAPITOL HILL UPDATE - May 8, 2009

President Obama Proposes a 2 Percent Increase for Mental Health Services

On Thursday, May 7, President Obama released the details of his budget.

Overall, the Administration proposed a $59 million increase (a roughly 2 percent increase)for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -- this was also the increase request (2 percent) for the Centers for Mental Health Services. In particular, the funding proposal for CMHS includes an increase of $17 million for the Children's Mental Health Program (Systems of Care grants) and a nearly$8.5 million increase for the homelessness program.

In a reversal of years past, programs for/by consumers were not targeted for proposed cuts. Funding for critical programs such as the Consumers Technical Assistance Centers and the Consumer/Family Statewide Network Grants did not face the budget scalpel for the first time in nearly half a decade.

In addition, other important programs including the Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Block Grants, the Healthy Students/Safe Schools program and other key mental health services and supports were level-funded for FY2010 in the Administration's budget.

The Administration also included a nearly 2 percent increase for the National Institutes of Mental Health, Drug Abuse and Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.

These modest increase requests come on the heel of last year's proposed 14 percent cut to CMHS funding.

Funding for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention programs were also level funded in the Administration's budget.

After Congress finishes work on a Supplemental Appropriations Bill (mainly for war-related and pandemic flu expenses), they will turn their attention to drafting the funding bills for these important programs.