It’s not so clear cut but you do make good points. Mental health and local politics go hand in hand and I’ve seen how local leadership in CSBs reflect in contracts, MOUs, and more. The government has not given a clear roadmap with realistic and achievable goals and continues to give local mental health agencies mixed signals. CSBs used tdt as a cash cow and abused the system, using it as a foundation to pad their budget. Often keeping kids in service for longer than needed. At this point tdt is gone with no replacement offered. CSBs and agencies that used to provide the service don’t have staff for it and claim they won’t hire because of Medicaid auths and difficulty coupled with no guidance from the state. State is apparently asking the csbs why they don’t provide TDT. Finger pointing in both directions.

I speak from personal and professional ties to the field and am working closely to try to address some disparities in my community so my soapbox isn’t just grandstanding 😇