A Message from Ian Lang, CEO
As questions continue to surface around potential federal funding cuts to mental health services, I want to take a moment to share where things stand at The Brookline Center—and how we’re thinking about what lies ahead.
Right now, there’s a great deal of uncertainty. The recent federal decisions and proposed restructurings are deeply concerning, particularly the scope and speed at which they may impact staffing and services across the country. Like many community-based mental health providers, we rely on key federal funding streams to support essential care for thousands of people each year. The volatility surrounding these decisions puts organizations like ours at real risk.
It’s not just direct federal program funding at stake—potential changes to Medicaid are also a serious concern, especially as nearly 40% of our patients rely on it for care. And we’re mindful of the likely downstream effects on the Massachusetts state budget, which could further impact community mental health funding across the board.
We are not waiting for full clarity before taking action. While we don’t yet know how much funding will be lost, when cuts might take effect, or which programs will be impacted most, we do know which Brookline Center programs currently rely most heavily on public support—and we’re watching those areas closely.
We are actively conducting scenario planning to prepare for a range of possibilities. Our leadership team is working across all programs and operations to identify thoughtful, responsible ways to reduce costs if needed, without sacrificing the quality or availability of services. We are also closely coordinating with peer organizations, advocates, and policymakers to understand the implications of an ever-changing landscape.
At the same time, we are doubling down on our goal of increasing access to mental health care for all. We believe that even in times of constraint—or perhaps especially in times of constraint—the best path forward is to stay focused on doing what matters most.
The Brookline Center’s track record of innovation gives us powerful tools to do that. We have never been content with delivering services the way they’ve always been done. Instead, we’ve invested in new models, partnerships, and ideas that deliver better outcomes and open doors for more people. Our Compass program, recently featured in The Boston Globe, is a powerful example—bringing specialized, trauma-responsive care to DCF-involved students through an innovative model that fills gaps left by conventional approaches.
This is the kind of work that will carry us forward. We will meet this moment with creativity, clarity, and resolve.
More than ever, we are grateful to our donors, partners, and friends. Your dedication allows us to keep showing up, to keep evolving, and to keep meeting the needs of the people and communities we serve, even when the policy environment throws us curveballs. We don’t take your support for granted, and we will continue to use every dollar you invest in us to build a stronger, more effective mental health system.
Thank you for standing with us. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more, and we’re always here to talk through questions or concerns.
With gratitude,
Ian Lang
Chief Executive Officer