Rep. Brostoff Statement on Gov. Evers’ Mental Health Budget Initiatives

ILWAUKEE – In response to the announcement earlier this morning that Governor Tony Evers will be proposing BadgerCare expansion and an over $150 million investment in critical mental and behavioral health initiatives – including a new behavioral health treatment program for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard of hearing Wisconsinites – in his 2021-2023 budget, State Representative Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:

“Today’s budget announcement is a huge win for Wisconsinites across the state – we have known for years that BadgerCare expansion and enhanced access to mental health access and programming are critical tools in ensuring that Wisconsinites across the state have their healthcare needs met, and I am extremely pleased to see Governor Evers make an important stand on behalf of our communities. As the Governor highlighted in his announcement, behavioral and mental healthcare is healthcare, and it is past time that we listen to our constituents and provide them the support we know they deserve.”

Earlier this morning, Governor Evers announced his intention to include BadgerCare expansion and over $150 million dollars in measures to improve access to and expand and support mental and behavioral healthcare programs in Wisconsin in his biennial budget. Of that number, over $46 million would go towards increasing access to care, over $55 million would go towards enhancing mental health support for students, over $25 million would help address the opioid crisis and other substance abuse disorders, and over $25 million would be used to reform crisis intervention and emergency detention practices.

“I am incredibly excited to see that Governor Evers has chosen to include my budget request for expanded mental health access and behavioral health programming for Wisconsin’s Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing communities as part of this budget. In many conversations I’ve had with Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing community members over the years, mental health access has consistently been a need that has, until now, gone unmet. I am overjoyed that Governor Evers will work to address the needs of these communities through the budget.

I encourage residents across Wisconsin to join me in thanking Governor Evers for this important move towards more mental health access!”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.