Advocacy

The Trust remains a strong advocate for maintaining crucial services for our state’s most vulnerable populations. When community-based services are reduced or eliminated because of budget cuts, these citizens are more likely to end up in emergency room care, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, jail or prison—most often at state expense. There will always be public costs serving Trust beneficiaries— either on the front end with community supports or on the back end with expensive institutional care.

However, community behavioral health treatment and rehabilitative services can cost 66 to 86 percent less than inpatient psychiatric care, and community support services for seniors can cost 28 to 88 percent less than nursing home care. Examples of community-based services include housing assistance, assisted living, family caregiver and natural supports, case management, education and training for providers and caregivers, peer support, transportation, mental health and substance abuse treatment.