Sen. Talbot Ross outlines bipartisan legislation to invest in Maine’s behavioral health system

AUGUSTA — Yesterday, March 19, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, joined a press conference with legislators and advocates to discuss bipartisan legislation that would make transformative investments in Maine’s behavioral health infrastructure by addressing workforce shortages and increasing access to school-based services.

“The reality we face is stark: Maine is experiencing a behavioral health workforce shortage that has reached crisis levels,” said Sen. Talbot Ross in her remarks. “This shortage impacts every corner of our state, from our coastal communities to our rural highlands, leaving vulnerable Mainers without access to the care they desperately need.”

At the press conference, Sen. Talbot Ross discussed two pieces of legislation that are currently being drafted and will be formally introduced in the coming weeks. One bill would create an alternative pathway to social work licensure that recognizes the varied skills, experiences and knowledge of individuals seeking to enter the social work profession. This legislation would seek to reduce barriers to prospective social workers entering the workforce and increase the availability of professionals statewide.

Another bill would set up partnerships between Maine’s public schools and behavioral health organizations to increase students’ access to behavioral health services. This legislation aims to use early intervention tactics to reduce future interactions with the criminal justice system, reduce stigma around seeking mental health support and reduce barriers to access.

Sen. Talbot Ross was joined by advocates for Maine’s behavioral health system, as well as Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Calais, and Assistant House Majority Leader Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach.

Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, and Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Calais, speak at a press conference advocating for investments in Maine’s behavioral health system