Susan Johnson

I am pleased to announce that the Connecticut General Assembly has a Mental Health Caucus of which I am a part. The Mental Health Caucus will continue to move our initiatives forward in our great state. This group is dedicated to helping those with mental health challenges and finding solutions. I thank Representatives Cristin McCarthy-Vahey, Jonathan Steinberg, Tom Delnicki, Kathleen McCarty, and Kathy Kennedy for their unwavering support of this truly collaborative effort.

Mental health should be a priority every year as we continue our work to ensure that more people have access to critical services. This year, we passed a budget with historic investments of more than $30 million for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Here are some of the highlights:

• Gets adults with IDD and kids with autism off waiting lists
• Bolsters work opportunities for individuals with IDD through tax credits, nonprofit grants, and training programs
• Improves statewide coordination of programming for those with IDD and autism while improving special education oversight and transition services through our State Department of Education

This builds on the momentum from last year when the Connecticut General Assembly passed a different set of bills supporting children’s mental health services. That legislation expands access and boosts resources. It addresses several issues in the short and long term by:

• Enhancing the behavioral health workforce
• Supporting school-based mental health services
• Expanding mental health treatment facilities across the state
• Supporting existing services
• Increasing access through insurance coverage

Mental health challenges affect just about everyone, so we’re all incentivized to help those who need it most. My colleagues and I are pushing to provide more funding to our mental health and behavioral health partners. I am grateful for all the work the House and Senate are doing to respond directly to our mental health initiatives.