Statement from National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia on Senate passage of Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sophia Majlessi
SophiaM@TheNationalCouncil.org
(202) 621-1631
National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia today released the below statement following the Senate’s passage of the Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act. The bipartisan legislation would provide aid and resources to the intersection of our nation’s mental health treatment and penal systems, including $10 million in grants to communities to create collaborative programs between criminal justice agencies and community mental health centers.
The resources would go directly to community mental health and addiction treatment centers and penal departments to better serve incarcerated individuals in need of treatment. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
“Existing treatment programs for incarcerated individuals with mental health conditions are inadequately resourced, making it difficult for vulnerable people to access care – both while incarcerated and after community re-entry. This bill addresses these shortcomings within correctional facilities and provides a clear path to community-based care post-release,” said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “Under this bill, penal departments and community mental health centers would be better linked to effectively treat those in crisis and improve continuity of care, which is critical for recovery.”
“I want to thank Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) for their leadership in introducing the bill, as well as Senators from both sides of the aisle for prioritizing increased access to mental health treatment for incarcerated individuals. This is especially important during a time when our nation’s most vulnerable people are at highest risk. If passed and signed into law, this legislation would immediately improve access to mental health and addiction treatment across the nation. We now call on the House to pass the Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act.”
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About the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 3,326 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 2 million Americans have been trained.
About The National Council
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,400 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.