NAMI Applauds Agreement on the 2016 Budget Bill

NAMI Applauds Agreement on the 2016 Budget Bill 

NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti today praised the House and Senate for their work in reaching agreement on the federal budget bill for 2016.

“This bill clearly demonstrates recognition by the Committee that wise investments in mental health services and research benefit people with mental illness, families, and the nation as a whole,” Giliberti stated. “We are particularly grateful for the agreement’s increased funding for early intervention in the treatment of psychosis, funding for research at the National Institute for Mental Health, and investments in vital services and supports that can prevent negative consequences such as homelessness and incarceration. NAMI is grateful for the efforts of key bipartisan leaders in Congress in bringing about these important investments including Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).”

The budget bill includes a number of important provisions including:

• An increase of $50 million for the State Mental Health Block Grant program administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), with 10% of these funds designated as a “set aside” for funding early intervention programs for people with serious mental illness, an increase from the current 5% set-aside. NAMI, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), held a Congressional briefing in October to focus attention on the promise of First Episode Psychosis (FEP) programs such as those established through the NIMH Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE)initiative and to ask Congress for this increase in funding. These programs in research sites across the country showed positive outcomes in reducing disability and fostering recovery.

• An increase of $85.4 million in funding for biomedical and services research at NIMH. Total funding for NIMH in FY 2016 will be increased to $1,548,390,000, a vital investment in research to advance understanding of the causes of mental illness and to identify new treatments for these conditions.

• An increase of $1.5 million for Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration grants funded through the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. This program, whose total funding will be $10 million in fiscal year 2016, provides vital grants to states and communities to support jail diversion, mental health courts, law enforcement training, and community reentry programs for people with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders involved with criminal justice systems.

The bill also provides $15 million for a new Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) pilot program through SAMHSA. NAMI will be encouraging SAMHSA to focus on funding projects modeled after San Francisco's new AOT program that include a signficant outreach and engagement component prior to AOT or if an AOT order is necessary, to assist and empower people under AOT orders to realize their personal goals and achieve better outcomes.

Senate passed a bill (S. 993) reauthorizing and expanding the Mentally Ill Offender and Treatment Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA).

A Holiday Gift From the Senate

Late last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill (S. 993) reauthorizing and expanding the Mentally Ill Offender and Treatment Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA).

S. 993 expands the use of MIOTCRA funds to include the following:

• Veterans treatment courts;
• Training for law enforcement and correctional officers on how to respond to individuals experiencing psychiatric crises;
• Mental Health and substance abuse treatment and services for individuals who are incarcerated;
• Alternatives to solitary confinement;
• Mental health and substance use services for individuals reentering communities following incarceration to reduce recidivism; and
• Enhanced data collection and measurement of outcomes.

S. 993 also expands the definition of who may be served by this program to include individuals charged or convicted of felonies, with the exception of individuals charged or convicted of sex offenses, murder, or assault with intent to commit murder.   Previously, MIOTCRA funds were restricted to “non-violent” offenders.

Sponsored by Senator Al Franken (D. MN), S. 993 enjoyed bipartisan support, with co-sponsors including Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R. Iowa) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D. Vermont). 

A companion bill to S. 933, H.R. 1854, is pending in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Action Needed!

• Please write to your U.S. Senator and thank him or her for passing S. 993. 
• We need the House to pass the companion bill (H.R. 1854) to S. 933. Please write to your U.S. Representative to urge him or her to pass H.R. 1854.  

 Email Now! 

Thank you for your advocacy!

New proposed bill will limit the amount of time that Registered Interns can be registered.

The Health Quality Subcommittee for the Florida House approved a committee substituted bill regarding mental health counseling interns. Here is the link to the committee substituted bill. Here is the link to the website related to the bill itself. The committee substituted bill states that registered intern status is only good for 5 years. The bill also discusses social workers and marriage & family therapy interns.

**Remember, a bill is not yet law.  A bill is a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.  Click below to learn how a bill becomes a law.

How a bill becomes a law.

NEFMHCA will continue to keep you updated on the status of this bill.