Library of Publications

Testimony dated June 28, 2021 in support of an act to ensure the constitutional rights and human dignity of prisoners on mental health watch.

June 25, 2021

MAMH

A November, 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Justice identified constitutional violations and serious concerns regarding the treatment of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Massachusetts prisons.

Suicide Prevention in Prisons: Ensuring Dignity and Constitutional Rights of Prisoners on Mental Health Watch

June 24, 2021

MAMH

This Fact Sheet provides an overview of MA legislation to rectify serious safety and constitutional concerns identified by the U.S. Department of Justice after an investigation of the MA Department of Correction’s suicide prevention and response practices.

Testimony in Support of of H.2065 An Act to Update MH Parity

June 22, 2021

Danna Mauch

Testimony dated June 21, 2021 in support of H.2065, an act to update mental health parity as it requires Group Insurance Commission and commercial health insurance plans to provide mental health benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Behavioral Health Crisis and Diversion from the Criminal Justice System: A Model for Effective Community Response

June 16, 2021

Bren Manaugh

Involvement in the criminal justice system compounds the challenges faced by people with behavioral health issues, interrupting access to benefits, treatment relationships and routines and other sources of support and stability, and making them vulnerable to trauma.

Testimony in Support of the THRIVES Act, Mental Health Education, and PACT for Youth

June 16, 2021

MAMH

Testimony dated June 16, 2021 in support of mental health education provisions of H.2084, which focuses on public health issues related to adolescents, and H.2108/S.1286, which would create a pilot PACT program for children.

Testimony Regarding Penalties for Assault on Certain First Responders

June 15, 2021

Danna Mauch

Testimony dated June 15, 2021 in opposition to H.1888/S.926, which would increase criminal penalties for assaults on certain first responders.

Criminal Legal System Diversion: Creating a Behavioral Health Emergency Response System

May 13, 2021

MAMH

We know that the involvement of police can escalate a behavioral health crisis, causing fear or triggering trauma reactions. Yet individuals experiencing a crisis and their families often find themselves with nowhere to turn but 911.

Homelessness and Older Adults (Fact Sheet)

May 10, 2021

MAMH

Fifty percent of chronically homeless individuals are between 51 and 61 years of age.

Building Evidence-Based Strategies to Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals With Substance Use Disorders

April 28, 2021

Karin Martinson, Doug McDonald, Amy Berninger, and Kyla Wasserman

This paper explores both the critical need for and promise of strategies that integrate employment and substance use services, as well as the limited evidence on which to build future programming.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Massachusetts Health Care System (Interim Report)

April 25, 2021

Massachusetts Health Policy Commission

This legislatively-mandated interim report focuses on health care utilization and market impacts to date, with a primary focus on calendar year 2020 and the impact of COVID-19.

FY22 House Ways and Means State Budget Amendment Co-Sponsorship Requests

April 22, 2021

Jessica Larochelle

This fact sheet, "FY22 House Ways and Means State Budget Amendment Co-Sponsorship Requests," describes the amendments that need co-sponsorship in the State House to support behavioral health needs in the FY22 budget proposed by the House Ways & Means Committee.

Fact Sheet: Restoration Center, Creating a behavioral health crisis and urgent care center

April 21, 2021

MAMH

This brief document outlines details on creating a behavioral health crisis and urgent care center, and the corresponding line items/sections of the 2022 budget that would fund this center.