It's whiplash': reversed cuts incredibly disruptive' for US mental health and substance abuse programs

"Directors of these programs woke up on Wednesday to a letter saying their funding from the US government had been cut, effective immediately. They scrambled to set up emergency meetings to go over the payroll, agonize over who would be laid off and trying to find other ways to keep their doors open and programs running. On Thursday, they received a new notice: the federal award cancellations were hereby reinstated, according to a letter obtained by the Guardian."

"It's incredibly disruptive for organizations, and the communities that they serve, to have funding yanked, even when it is later restored, he said. If you're doing the work and you're reporting to the government and you're in full compliance with everything, you're not expecting your contract, with no warning and no communication from anybody to be abruptly terminated in an email at 3am, Rotman said."

Federal notices abruptly canceled funding for roughly 2,800 mental health and substance-use programs partnering with SAMHSA, leaving directors suddenly without support. Program leaders received termination letters and scrambled to hold emergency meetings, review payroll, determine layoffs, and find ways to keep operations running. A day later the cancellations were rescinded and agencies were told to continue activities, creating severe uncertainty and disruption. Providers reported whiplash, distress over compliance despite sudden termination notices, and concern for vulnerable clients; examples included counseling and housing programs in Alabama, responder training in New Hampshire, and child trauma services in Tennessee.

Read at www.theguardian.com