Support FY26 DMH Jail & Arrest Diversion Grant Program (Amendment #1597)

I am writing to urge your strong support for Amendment #1597 (Rep. Cruz) to the FY26 Budget (DMH 5046-0000), which seeks to allocate $21.5 million for the Department of Mental Health (DMH) Jail & Arrest Diversion Grant Program. The Problem Too many individuals experiencing a behavioral health (BH) crisis in Massachusetts are arrested or incarcerated instead of being connected to urgent therapeutic services. This not only delays or prevents needed care, but also places additional strain on our law enforcement and judicial systems, increasing the risk of dangerous interactions between individuals and police. Additionally, many individuals in crisis are transported by police or ambulance to already-overburdened hospital emergency departments (EDs), worsening the ED boarding crisis and delaying access to treatment for everyone. What This Line Item Achieves • Since 2007, the DMH Jail & Arrest Diversion Grant Program has funded police-based diversion programs across the Commonwealth. These programs, first piloted in Framingham in 2003, are now led by police departments statewide in partnership with behavioral health providers. • The program provides crucial funding to municipalities and BH providers to implement diversion projects. In FY25, DMH supported 117 grantees. • DMH also funds nine regional Crisis Intervention and Co-Response Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTACSs), which strengthen pre-arrest diversion practices and provide training, skill development, and crisis call resolution strategies. • In FY23 alone, the program resulted in 2,327 diversions from arrest and 3,659 from EDs, saving an estimated $28 million by avoiding unnecessary arrests, incarcerations, and ED stays. • The House Ways and Means FY26 Budget currently includes only $3.8 million for this program. An additional $17.7 million is needed to fully fund all approved project applications, reaching the $21.5 million required to meet the demand from police departments and TTACSs. Why This Matters Co-Response partnerships between police departments and community behavioral health providers are proven, effective strategies to de-escalate behavioral health crises and divert individuals from arrest, incarceration, and unnecessary hospitalizations. Fully funding these partnerships will strengthen our public safety and health systems, improve outcomes for individuals in crisis, and reduce costs across the board. Proposed Solution I respectfully urge you to support Amendment #1597 and fully fund the DMH Jail & Arrest Diversion Grant Program at $21.5 million in the FY2026 state budget. This investment is critical to ensuring that individuals in behavioral health crisis receive the right care at the right time, while alleviating pressure on our law enforcement, judicial, and medical systems. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your continued commitment to the well-being of all Massachusetts residents.