“Maine Resilience” Package of Legislation for Mental Health

In the last few months Maine has undergone crises that have highlighted the big and increasing need for mental health services across our state. Much of the need is found in the gaps and under resourcing of current services, and then there are several new initiatives that must be passed and funded.

We urge the Governor and Legislature fund a “Maine Resilience” package of bills as an action plan to provide timely and appropriate access to quality mental services across Maine. These bills below already passed with unanimous support and need to be taken from the AFA Table and put into the budget NOW!!
(Budget impact of approx. $10 Million for FY 25)

1. EXPAND ACCESS TO SERVICES THROUGH WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS (Approx. $2.4M):

• LD 632, to amend the Social Work Education Loan Program to invest in getting more clinicians into the field ($500K p/yr),
• LD 997, to reduce workforce barriers for mental health professionals in Maine ($920K p/yr),
• LD 1506, to convene a stakeholder group to study the training and recruitment of behavioral health professionals ($450k),
• LD 1718, to encourage participation in Maine’s essential support workforce through access to higher education ($500K p/yr).

2. FILL IN GAPS IN THE MH CARE CONTINUUM FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS (Approx. $5M):

• LD 539, to direct the department to include counseling for substance use disorder in rehabilitative services for MaineCare members who have sustained an acquired brain injury, which in many cases is the outcome from surviving an overdose ($500K p/yr),
• LD 840, to develop support services for individuals with emotional dysregulation disorders that often escalate into crisis ($1.8M p/yr),
• LD 907, to better meet the needs of those with severe and persistent mental illness ($100K p/yr)
• LD 1178, to reduce barriers to recovery from addiction by expanding eligibility for Targeted Case Management services to all who are receiving treatment for substance use disorder ($2M p/yr),
• LD 1236, to increase the provision of children’s mental health services in rural areas of Maine ($500K p/yr),

3. SUPPORT BEST PRACTICE MODELS OF CARE (Approx. $3M):

• LD 472, to provide bridge funding for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model of care, that not only provides comprehensive mental health and substance use services, but also are a resource for trauma-informed care ($2M one-time funds),
• LD 1305, to resolve to design and implement a community-based model of care that ad-dresses the acute mental health needs of adolescents with co-occurring disorders and upon discharge from a residential substance use treatment facility ($1.5M one-time funds).

These new initiatives below are also part of the Maine Resilience Package !
We urge passage and funding of these new initiatives of evidence-based practices and preventive supports for youth:

• LD 435, to ensure the provision of medically necessary behavioral health care services for children in their homes and communities (minimal cost),
• LD 2002, to provide incentives to schools that contract for certain social work and family therapy services ($1.3M p/yr),
• LD 2083 – A Resolve to Ensure Timely Access and Medication Management Across the State. For many, medical management of mental health medications is the foundation for their successful integration into their communities and workplaces (minimal cost)

NEW INITIATIVE:

• LD 2223, ENHANCE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE
  Invest in more mobile crisis response units and fund a hundred new community crisis workers that are supervised and supported by community based mental health agencies, creating a crisis system available for all Mainers 24/7/365 that is funded on a cost reimbursement basis.

EXPAND THE NUMBER and GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF RECEIVING CENTERS
Receiving centers (formerly know as the living room model) are physical locations that are open 24/7 and are places where Law Enforcement, EMT’s, families and individuals themselves can take people who are in mental health or SUD crisis. At the center they receive medical attention, mental health support, peer support, safe over night accommodation if necessary, and are triaged into appropriate ongoing services. Currently we have one in Portland and one scheduled for Kennebec County. We believe that 6 additional centers are needed around the state.

Endorsed by the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services & the Behavioral Health Community Collaborative