Association for Behavioral Healthcare

02/26/2026

Paul Bertau Cornely was the first Black American elected as President of the American Public Health Association. He was a founder of the National Student Health Association, President of the Physician’s Forum, and founder/first president of the District of Columbia Public Health Association.

Dr. Cornely dedicated his life’s work to developing public health initiatives to reduce disparities in healthcare for underserved communities.

02/18/2026

Psychologists Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Bancroft Clark’s invaluable research advanced the Civil Rights movement. Their research demonstrated the psychological harms of school segregation and was used as evidence in the supreme court case Brown vs. The Board of Education.

The Clarks were the first Black Americans to obtain doctoral degrees in psychology from Columbia University.

02/11/2026

Follow along during as we spotlight Black American pioneers in the behavioral health sector, beginning with Bebe Moore Campbell.

Campbell was a mental health advocate, author, journalist and teacher. Her advocacy shed light on the unique behavioral health needs and experiences of the Black community and other marginalized populations.

02/03/2026

Listen to a recent discussion featuring Kate Walsh, former Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, and moderated by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on healthcare access in the wake of Medicaid cuts and other policy changes: https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/whats-at-stake-for-health-care-reform-insights-from-florida-and-massachusetts/.

Health care access, costs, and coverage – particularly for lower-income Americans – are expected to undergo dramatic changes in the next few years. Enhanced

01/30/2026

Find free technical and training assistance for behavioral healthcare professionals, provided by SAMHSA here: https://www.samhsa.gov/technical-assistance.

01/28/2026

Medication for substance use disorder can reduce cravings, ease withdrawal, and support long-term recovery.

Find information, training, and support resources for providers administering medication to treat substance use disorders here: https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/resources/provider-support.

SAMHSA

01/27/2026

The most recent Mass. opioid-related overdose death data indicates the largest decline in deaths since 2013, coinciding with an uptick in evidence-based approaches to treatment.

Recovery is a journey, but it is possible. Community-based care makes treatment accessible to all populations.

01/21/2026

Steven Winn, president and CEO of ABH member organization Behavioral Health Network, Inc., calls on elected officials to maintain funding for “lifesaving and life sustaining services to children, adults and families living with mental health, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities.”

Read more in Winn’s letter to the editor published by MassLive and The Springfield Republican (paywalled): https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/01/a-profound-duty-of-the-american-citizenry-letters-to-the-republican.html.

Readers also comment on the Supreme Court helping Trump, behavioral health care in crisis, student risk at PVPA, ICE tactics, Venezuela and the killing of Renee Good.

01/20/2026

Take the time this to check in with your staff and ensure they have the tools to support their individual wellness.

Find resources to help facilitate a conversation here:
https://library.samhsa.gov/product/taking-care-promoting-well-being-recovery-and-behavioral-health-care-providers/pep25-08-009.

01/19/2026

Martin Luther King Jr. played a pivotal role in advancing health equity in the U.S. His civil rights advocacy led to the desegregation of healthcare facilities and paved the way for programs like Medicaid that continue to be instrumental in expanding access for marginalized communities.

01/15/2026

"Yesterday, behavioral health providers across Massachusetts and the nation experienced utter chaos as emails from SAMHSA arrived overnight informing them that grants were cancelled, effective the day before. A 'break now, fix later' approach is no way to run essential government services that help people experiencing major behavioral health challenges. I am grateful to the members of Congress who took action and pressed HHS and SAMHSA to reverse course. Providers need stable funding commitments to effectively deliver services and I hope that the political fallout from the Trump administration’s rash decision will prevent future midnight email messages."

- Lydia Conley, ABH President and CEO

Read more from NPR here: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5677711/mental-health-addiction-grants-cut-then-restored/.

For 24 hours, it was unclear which mental health and addiction programs would survive and who would still have jobs when the dust settled.

01/05/2026

This Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, we celebrate our member organizations guiding individuals in recovery with accessible, evidence-based care.

If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources here, and please remember that you are not alone: www.findtreatment.gov.

SAMHSA