Senator Stabenow Highlights Expansion of Comprehensive Community Mental Health and Addiction Services for Residents in Southeast Michigan

Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was in Detroit to highlight her efforts to transform the way we deliver comprehensive behavioral health services in our country and what this transformation means for residents in Southeast Michigan. Stabenow toured Southwest Solutions and met with their service providers and partners. A photo of her visit can be found here.

Since 2018, Stabenow’s efforts have resulted in $112 million in federal funding for 24 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Michigan, including $3,951,940 in new federal funding for Southwest Solutions to expand local services. 15 clinics in Southeast Michigan received nearly $70 million. 

“For too long, our country has funded health care above the neck differently than health care below the neck. The COVID-19 crisis has shown a spotlight on the urgent need for high quality, comprehensive community mental health and addiction services. We are transforming the way we deliver these services in Michigan and across the country by funding behavioral health services the same way we fund physical health services. Southwest Solutions is an important part of this transformation,” said Senator Stabenow. 

“At Southwest Solutions, we are committed to bettering the lives of families in Detroit and the surrounding areas. Senator Stabenow’s work in Congress to change the way we fund mental health and addiction services in our country is critical to our own mission-based work. This funding comes at a crucial time when so many families are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will enable us to expand our services for people in a mental health crisis and provide better integrated mental-physical health services,” said Sean de Four, Southwest Solutions President and CEO.

“Mental and behavioral health is just as important as physical health,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “It’s unconscionable that we are not funding mental health services in an equitable way. I’m so proud of Senator Debbie Stabenow’s leadership with the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act, which is working to fix this inequity. What we saw today on our visit was the result of realizing that we must take care of people’s whole being. When we address mental and behavioral health issues we decrease poverty, crime, and homelessness. When we adequately fund mental health services we increase quality of life and also give people the opportunity to thrive. This is what government should be about. I will continue to fight and partner with Sen. Stabenow to ensure that every person has the access to the complete health care that they need.”

“Michigan and the country has no greater advocate and friend in Washington than Senator Stabenow. The amount of effort and the results that she has delivered over her many years of service is just unmatched. Stigma is the leading barrier to people getting the help that they need, but the second barrier is having access to high quality behavioral health care. CCBHCs allows people, once they are ready for help, to have a place to go get high quality help and not be concerned about their ability to pay. That is the significance of the CCBHC money,” said Kevin Fischer, NAMI Michigan Executive Director.

In 2014, Senator Stabenow authored and passed her bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). It was the biggest step forward in expanding community mental health and addiction services in decades. Her legislation created high quality standards for services and a nationwide demonstration program that is setting the standard for care and permanently closing the gap in funding between physical and behavioral health care in communities around the country. With Senator Stabenow’s leadership and support, Michigan was selected for this demonstration program in 2020.

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