In a significant move to bolster behavioral health services for the state's youngest residents, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has unveiled plans to expand community-based services for children and youth in Massachusetts. As reported by Massachusetts Government, this marks the first major growth of the provider network in over a decade, signaling a committed effort to bring essential services to families in need.
Under the expansion, 36 community service agencies across the state have been chosen to provide intensive care coordination, family engagement services, and new team-based treatments specifically for MassHealth members, which includes nearly half of all children in the state. This initiative aims to delve into addressing behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs by ensuring that services are not just of high quality, but are also easily accessible, and, culturally and linguistically appropriate.
With nearly one in five children aged three to seventeen having been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition at some point, as per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the administration's move is timely. The expansion is expected to offer more options for families, increasing access to high-quality behavioral health services and ensuring coverage across the state. This includes specialized care for those seeking services that align with their specific cultural and linguistic needs.
"This expansion will strengthen the behavioral health system of support for hundreds of thousands of children and their families here in Massachusetts,” Governor Maura Healey stated, emphasizing the importance of the initiative, according to the Massachusetts Government. Ensuring that the youth receive the care they need is a priority for the administration. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah has underscored the role of supporting young people's behavioral health as foundational to society's overall health, and vital to their work.
The selection process for the community service agencies was rigorous, carried out by the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP), and included review teams comprised of community members, and caregivers with relevant lived experience. The agencies are currently undergoing a thorough readiness process before contracting, a detail highlighted by Sharon Hanson, Vice President of Client Partnerships and CEO of MBHP. "We aim to transform behavioral health services and create lasting positive change in our communities," Hanson highlighted the desire to innovate and shift the landscape of behavioral health services through the initiative, as per the Massachusetts Government.
MBHP, which is part of Carelon Behavioral Health, manages comprehensive behavioral health care for over 400,000 MassHealth members statewide. The organization strives to ensure that these services are accessible and culturally sensitive through collaborations with various state agencies, providers, and community stakeholders, all in an effort to promote rehabilitation, recovery, and whole health.
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