25 Investigates: Mass. Gov. Healey’s budget cuts mental health programs for at-risk kids

answers Uncovering the truth Boston 25 News investigates Governor Mory Haley's 2026 budget calls for cuts to programs for children and teenagers with the deepest mental health needs Advocates turned to 25 investigates saying the reasoning behind the cuts doesn't tell the full story They tell me these residential programs are for the kids with no other safe options they just keep showing up through the revolving door and the hospital or they just don't feel they're safe to go home because they're still imminent risk of harm to themselves or others Those kids wind up in our programs and those programs are on the chopping block says Lydia Todd executive director of Northeastern Family Institute or NFI NFI's programs serve thousands through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services The ones in jeopardy are here in Westboro The dual residential program has 30 beds for kids ages 13 through 19 who enter an acute crisis This is at really the deepest end of mental health needs for kids in the Commonwealth Todd says she was recently notified by the Department of Mental Health budget cuts proposed in Governor Healey's new budget included them I think that is a mistake This New Bedford dad says their child's stay in Westboro saved their life We agreed not to identify him to protect his child's privacy It's heartbreaking on a daily basis and without the support it would also feel hopeless The dad says their child has many conditions including suicidal ideiation During their 9-month stay in Westboro his child received psychiatric and medical oversight behavioral therapy and peer support groups Todd says the reason for the cut the program's only at 50% capacity So the state wants to consolidate it with another youth program but she believes utilization is not due to a lack of need rather a sluggish referral process bogged down since co You've been raising the red flag on this for a couple of years And now do you feel penalized by how slow the process has been It feels that way but I think it's also tough if you're a commissioner and you have to make cuts and you don't have a lot of time to do that and if you look just at utilization but it just never tells the whole story The Department of Mental Health tells 25 investigates that consolidation will ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and will save the state more than $15 million A spokesperson noting the administration has also expanded access to care through 31 community behavioral health centers I think it's a shame and at the very least we have to hold the children and families harmless while we explore this These facilities are critical uh to the safety uh of children in our state And if a state is not supporting the safety of its children it's not really supporting anything Another facility being cut a program for children ages 6 to 12 in Belchure Town in Western Mass It's the only intensive residential facility in the state for children that young