Panels approve FY26 federal block grant allocation plans for substance use, mental health and public-health programs

A joint public hearing and subsequent committee votes approved the state's federal fiscal year 2026 block grant allocation plans for substance use prevention, community mental health, maternal and child health, preventive public health, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).

The plans, presented by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Social Services (DSS), generally maintain flat federal funding levels from FY25 while adjusting some line items to absorb expiring pandemic grants, expand peer workforce work and support regional suicide-prevention efforts. Appropriations approved the package in final committee action (tally recorded in committee: 42 yes, 0 no).

Why it matters: these block grants fund prevention, treatment and community supports across the state's behavioral-health and public-health systems and are used by local providers for services ranging from crisis response and housing outreach to food pantries and weatherization. Changes in how the state uses one-time carryover funds and the planned peer credentialing pilot will affect workforce development and short-term continuity of services if federal pandemic-era grants wind down.

Most important changes and agency priorities

Nancy Navarretta, commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, told committees DMHAS is requesting approval of two allocation plans: the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services block grant and the Community Mental Health Services block grant (adult portion, with a portion shared with DCF for children). Navarretta said the substance-use grant "requires us to set aside at least 20% of the funds for what's called primary prevention strategies" and that the department "exceeded at 26%." She described modest timing-related differences between FY25 and FY26 allocations that arise from invoice timing and said DMHAS is retaining a larger carryforward in FY26 to prepare for the end of multiple federal pandemic-era grants. Navarretta summarized services funded by the grants: detox, residential care levels, outpatient and medication-assisted treatment, peer and community supports, transportation and prevention.

Key program adjustments called out by DMHAS and DCF

- Recovery support services: DMHAS said funding is increased to cover three programs previously paid with expiring federal sources (the Access line/call center and…