State Policy · DE
Spotlight Delaware Finds State's Mental Health System Faltering
In an investigation, Spotlight Delaware reports that mental health services the state built after a 2011 federal lawsuit are beginning to falter a decade later. Mobile crisis units are responding to a fraction of the calls they used to, and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) has struggled with staffing vacancies and turnover. Housing vouchers and the state's 205 group home beds have neared or reached capacity in recent years, while the group home budget has stayed flat at about $11 million since 2019. A DSAMH spokesperson acknowledged the findings, citing staffing shortages as the primary challenge and noting that the state is investing to close staffing gaps.
Why it mattersDelaware Medicaid officials and behavioral health providers may face increased pressure on crisis and hospitalization services if staffing shortages and capacity limits in community mental health programs continue unaddressed.