Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Mental health pamphlets at an office complex in Round Rock on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.
TEXAS (KXXV) — Advocates for mental health in Texas are sounding the alarm as they push lawmakers to replace federal COVID-19 relief funding that is critical for community programs.
With a budget surplus of approximately $20 billion projected at the start of the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers face tough decisions on funding priorities. As parts of the COVID-19 relief funds that supported various health initiatives will be expiring on Dec. 31, stakeholders worry about the future of mental health services in the state.
The funds, part of a larger $350 billion program established through the American Rescue Plan Act, amounted to over $450 million allocated to Texas for mental health and substance abuse initiatives. This funding helped to establish programs such as peer-to-peer services and telepsychiatry in schools and libraries.
Alison Mohr Boleware of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health expressed concerns about the absence of a formal replacement funding mechanism for these vital services, reiterating, ‘Many stakeholders and advocates are raising the alarm on what will happen if funds are not replaced.’
Among the legislative proposals is SB 469, which aims to allow licensed social workers to provide needed assistance to Medicaid patients, potentially adding over 1,500 new providers to the service ecosystem. Meanwhile, SB 188 targets funding for the 988 suicide prevention hotline, which has seen a significant demand since its implementation.
As Texas addresses these pressing issues, not only do lawmakers aim to preserve existing initiatives, but they also aspire to strengthen mental health frameworks for the future. Texas has historically invested in mental health, and many believe that the upcoming 89th legislative session represents a significant opportunity.
‘Chronic absenteeism is just a piece of a larger root cause, and one of those key root causes is mental health and wellness for students,’ said Tasha Moore, CEO for Communities In Schools of North Texas.’
With these ongoing challenges, the hope remains that Texas lawmakers will step up to ensure that the mental health needs of their communities are met as they navigate resource allocation amidst competing interests.
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