Op-Ed by: County Commissioner Jeff Warren<\/p>\n
Bethlehem, PA (Dec. 10) \u2013 In a letter recently sent to the Northampton County state legislative delegation, Northampton County Commissioner Jeff Warren has called upon local state representatives and senators to begin setting the foundation for enhanced mental health funding within the next Pennsylvania State Budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cCounties throughout Pennsylvania constantly struggle to maintain community-based mental health services because of the lag in state funding for well over a decade,\u201d Warren said. \u201cMore and more of our Pennsylvania and Northampton County residents need mental health resources as we continue to come out of the pandemic. \u00a0Our county and communities need enhanced funding to keep up with demand,\u201d said Warren.<\/p>\n
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania has been advocating for an increase in mental health state funding.\u00a0 In fact, they have called on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to phase-in approximately $1 billion over the next several years to restore cuts that were made from a decade ago.\u00a0 This funding would address the significant residential waiting list needs and invest in the staffing needed to provide case management that have multiplied in both number and complexity.\u00a0 Warren sent letters discussing the need for an increase in funding to State Senators Nick Miller and Lisa Boscola, as well as State Representatives Bob Freeman, Steve Samuelson, Ann Flood, Joe Emrick, and Zach Mako.\u00a0 Attached with this press release is a copy of that letter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done a great job over the years raising more awareness about mental health needs within our collective communities.\u00a0 However, our state government needs to put its money where its mouth is.\u00a0 Let\u2019s not just talk about it and put band-aids on the problem.\u00a0 My colleagues in Harrisburg need to come up with a strategic and long-term plan to truly address mental health funding that will benefit Northampton County and Pennsylvania residents,\u201d Warren said.<\/p>\n