Thank You!

Thank you for sharing your testimony!

Dear [Senator/Representative’s Last Name],

I am writing to you as a concerned advocate [insert your particular role here, profession, family, individual receiving support] for the wellbeing of the children of the Commonwealth and our communities at large.

Please stop the proposed budget cuts to the DMH children’s mental health services: budget line item 5042-5000. We must reinstate the programs and provide the funding for these critical children’s mental health services. These cuts include the adolescent intensive residential services, one of which is the only program of this level of intensity and type in the state for children ages 6-12!

At a time when mental health challenges among children and adolescents are at an all-time high, this budget proposal is a crisis in the making! Investing in mental health services is not just compassionate—it is fiscally responsible.

Mental health treatment for children and families reduces long-term costs. Cutting critical services will increase the demands on emergency services, healthcare (including increased emergency department boarding and inpatient recidivism), juvenile justice, special education, and future adult mental health service demands. Every dollar “saved” through cuts today will cost our state more in the future.

I urge you to stand with our children and families and oppose the proposed budget cuts to the DMH children’s mental health funding. This is particularly important to me as [insert YOUR reason here}

Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to the well-being of our state’s youth.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Contact Information and or role]

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Hello. I’m a constituent of Representative/Senator’s ______________ and also [insert your occupation/role here]

“I’m calling to ask that Representative/Senator __________________ to please advocate against the proposed budget cuts to DMH’s children’s mental health services: specifically budget line item 5042-5000. We must reinstate the DMH children’s programs and provide the funding for these critical children’s mental health services.

In fact, one of the proposed closures will be to the only children’s residential treatment programs in the state for children ages 6-12!

“It’s important that Representative/Senator __________________ oppose these DMH budget cuts as they will have immediate and lasting impact on the mental health of the youth of our commonwealth. An investment in children’s mental health is an investment in the future of our state.

[insert any additional personal information here, role, relationship to children’s mental health etc. If desired, leave an email address for follow up]

Thank you for your time.