|
Briefing Sheet: Title XX Support for Mental Health Services
April 1999
The Social Services Block Grant, Title XX of the Social Security Act, funds a number of mental health and related social services, including counseling, information and referral, and substance abuse services. Recent cuts in Title XX have undermined the provision of mental health services in almost every state, and further cuts would have a devastating impact on these critical services for our nation's families.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) funds provide needed mental health and related services. Federal law allows the funds to be used for referral and counseling; protective services for children and adults; health support services; and services to meet the special needs of children, the elderly, substance abusers, and mentally, physically, and emotionally disabled persons.
Many states need Title XX funds for mental health funding. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors reports that close to $55 million of Title XX dollars were used by state mental health agencies in FY97. Seven states actually received more mental health funds from Title XX than from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the primary source of federal dollars for mental health services.
Title XX services have specific goals for assistance to vulnerable populations. Eligible programs must meet the goals of: (1) achieving or maintaining economic self-support; (2) achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency; (3) preventing or remedying neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults who are unable to protect themselves; (4) preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing less restrictive alternatives; and (5) securing referral or admission for institutional care when other alternatives are not appropriate, or providing services to individuals in institutions.
Title XX funds have been cut drastically in recent years. Title XX received $2.8 billion in FY96, $2.5 billion in FY97, $2.3 billion in FY98, and $1.9 billion in FY99, a one-third reduction in only four years. The current authorization for spending is $2.38 billion.
MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES FUNDED BY TITLE XX*
Counseling to over 280,000 adults and over 35,000 children.
Case Management to over 250,000 adults and over 200,000 children.
Information and Referral assistance and outreach to over 800,000 recipients.
Prevention and Intervention services to over 540,000 households (including
counseling, mental health therapy, parenting skills, and respite care).
MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES FUNDED BY TITLE XX*
Substance Abuse Services to almost 9,000 recipients.
Residential Treatment Services to over 50,000 children and adults.
Services to over 49,000 Youth at Risk.
Independent and Transitional Living services to over 4,500 youths and adults.
HOW FY99 CUTS WILL AFFECT ACTUAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS**
If the 40 states for which we have data retain current priorities and do not obtain new funding sources, the following consequences could occur:
More than 110,000 people would lose case management services.
More than 77,000 people would lose counseling services.
More than 75,000 children would lose prevention and intervention services.
More than 11,500 at-risk youth would lose services.
RECOMMENDATION
Restore Title XX funding to its authorized level of $2.38 billion without sacrificing or reducing other critically needed health and social service programs.
* Since the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not yet compiled official recipient data on Title XX, all figures used above are based on the most recent (FY97) reporting forms submitted by the states. The data from ten states were not available for inclusion.
**Projections are based on the 24% funding cut sustained from FY97 to FY99 and assume that states will maintain current funding priorities.
Back to Top^
|
