“State Budget Cuts Threaten Youth Mental Health Programs in Maryland”
By SASHA ALLEN, Capital News Service
State grants awarded to programs aimed at improving youth mental health in Maryland are facing budget cuts that may negatively impact the well-being of students. Catholic Charities of Baltimore and Thrive Behavioral Health were among the organizations that received funding to address chronic absenteeism and severe behavioral issues in students in various school districts.
Despite initially receiving significant funding to support behavioral health services for over 58,000 students, Maryland’s youth mental health program is now facing funding reductions due to the state’s financial challenges. Governor Wes Moore recommended cutting the program’s budget from the proposed $110 million to $40 million for fiscal year 2025, with plans to maintain this lower funding level through 2030.
Mental health professionals and advocates are concerned that these cuts will severely impact the progress made in providing mental health services to young people, especially as suicide rates among youth have been on the rise in Maryland and nationwide. The Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports is actively seeking ways to restore funding to previous levels to ensure continued support for students’ mental health needs.
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