Be Part of the Solution

Actions you can take to protect SAMHSA

Together, we can take action to protect mental health and addiction resources. Included here:

Action alert to protect the federal agency that oversees mental health and addiction.

A fact sheet that provides important information on protecting youth when legalizing marijuana.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the federal agency that leads efforts on mental health and substance use, is facing threats of major staff and funding cuts, according to recent media reports.  Roughly 100 employees – more than 10% of the agency’s workforce – have already been fired, and additional cuts could amount to 50-70% of the agency’s workforce.  At a time when the country is facing both mental health and addiction crises, the funding, oversight, and guidance SAMHSA provides is more critical than ever.  Send a letter to your members of Congress urging them to help protect SAMHSA from cuts that will jeopardize the recent progress made on reducing overdose deaths.

Take Action

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New resources to navigate federal grant challenges The challenges for nonprofits delivering services under federal grants and contracts are changing day by day. Whether your agency is dealing with freezes, extra reviews, or outright cancellations, it is challenging keeping up with the changes. The National Council of Nonprofits is continuing to update its chart of the effects of executive actions, as well as the frequently asked questions they have been hearing from organizations around the country. The newest resource they created addresses what a nonprofit should do if you receive a notice that your federal grant or contract is terminated. A lot will be determined by the particular agency and language in your award agreement, but the checklist linked below provides some high-level guidance on steps to take.

Checklist for if your grant is terminated is here:
 https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-checklist-what-do-when-your-federal-grant-or-contract-terminated

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Sorting Fact from Fiction on the Future of Medicaid
by Bill Hammond, Empire Center

As Washington contemplates cutbacks to federal funding for Medicaid, officials in Albany have reacted in two self-contradictory ways.

On one hand, they warn of catastrophic consequences if the plans go through. On the other, they admit that they are doing nothing to hedge against that risk in their own planning for the state budget.Both responses are wrong-headed. Although Congress is indeed preparing to reduce future federal Medicaid spending, the effects are unlikely to be as dire as Governor Hochul and others have suggested.

At the same time, state budget-makers would be prudent to hit the brakes on spending now – and not go forward with a budget that could balloon state Medicaid spending by 17 percent or more in a single year.

Join the No Health = No Justice Initiative for our first training in our spring Know Your Rights series.

As part of LAC’s Drug User Health Rights work, we will host a training on the anti-discrimination protections available for people who use(d) drugs in healthcare settings. This training will equip individuals with the knowledge to protect people’s right to access healthcare through out-of-court (self) advocacy and by making referrals to LAC and other responsible agencies that investigate complaints of discrimination in healthcare settings.

Register Here