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Public commenters urge commission to protect peer-support roles as cuts, consolidation loom
Summary
Peer-support workers and advocates told the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission during a listening session that proposed funding cuts and committee consolidation threaten jobs and culturally grounded services, urging technical assistance, outreach, and continued public pressure.
Dozens of peer-support workers, program directors and advocates told the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission during a listening session that proposed funding changes and consolidation of committees risked cutting roles that provide early intervention and culturally grounded care.
"Losing places and organizations like peers that are so vital and so important and valuable to people really is going to have an impact that I don't think the state's ready to see," said Steve Hazen, a staff member at Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services, describing peer-run programs as a lifeline that can engage people before crisis.
The commenters tied their concerns to broader shifts in…
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