Association for Behavioral Healthcare

Massachusetts’ Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) has launched a public dashboard to track the capacity and diversity of the health and human services workforce in the Commonwealth. ABH partnered with CHIA to survey our membership for the behavioral health data. CHIA’s goal is to use the data to inform policies and programs. Here’s the link:  https://lnkd.in/gB--Bem5

Thanks to the Massachusetts delegation for engaging with us on key issues in behavioral health, our members who carried the message, and especially Elizabeth Ganz, our State Captain, who led us flawlesssly.

The ABH team had the opportunity to join colleagues from around the country this week to advocate for behavioral healthcare at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s annual Hill Day. Thank you to all in our Massachusetts delegation for taking the time to meet and listen to our concerns. #HillDay2024 National Council for Mental Wellbeing, BAMSI, Behavioral Health Network, Inc (BHN), Clinical & Support Options, Inc., High Point & Affiliated Organizations, RIVER VALLEY COUNSELING CENTER, INC, Seven Hills Foundation

National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Charles Ingoglia kicks off this year’s Hill Day seeking support from Congress for improved access to behavioral healthcare and help building the behavioral health workforce. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ezg6jCSY. #HillDay2024 National Council for Mental Wellbeing, BAMSI, Behavioral Health Network, Inc (BHN), Clinical & Support Options, Inc., High Point & Affiliated Organizations, RIVER VALLEY COUNSELING CENTER, INC, Seven Hills Foundation

Good luck and thank you to retiring Board of Directors members Marsha Medalie, Christine MacBeth and Andy Pond. Thank you for all you’ve done for behavioral healthcare in the Commonwealth. Riverside Community Care The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Inc. Justice Resource Institute

Here’s a snapshot of mental health in Massachusetts. #MentalHealthMatters

Thank you to outgoing Board Chair Ken Bates of Open Sky Community Services for your work and leadership over the last two years. #BoardLeadership

ABH President and CEO Lydia Conley was quoted in the Healey-Driscoll Administration's announcement this week about funding directed toward youth mental health services: “As the data show, many children and adults do not need to go to hospital emergency departments for help. CBHCs can help them in a comfortable community location or even in their own home.”  Gov. Healey visited ABH member Child & Family Services, Inc. https://lnkd.in/evvra3HQ

It was great to see so many of our members this week at our Annual Business Meeting. Thanks to Mass. Health Policy Commission Executive Director David Seltz, who acknowledged ABH for sharing vacancy data and spoke about the need to invest more in behavioral healthcare. #behavioralhealthmatters

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and another chance to advocate for adequate funding for children’s behavioral health services. No child or family should have to wait months to begin services.  Our recent issue brief lays out the crisis; read it here: https://lnkd.in/eTQ4Cg3G