Congress passed the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.

These cuts represent one of the most significant rollbacks in U.S. history, placing millions at risk, including over 37 million children and adolescents who receive health care through Medicaid and CHIP.

The Steve Fund (TSF) is the nation’s leading organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people, especially those from underserved and underresourced communities. We are deeply concerned about the immediate and long-term consequences of this legislation. As the largest payer of youth mental health services, Medicaid plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring that young people have access to quality care.

“Even before this legislation, families struggled to find accessible mental health care for their children, particularly in rural and urban communities,” said Dr. Annelle Primm, Senior Medical Director at The Steve Fund. “Now, with this level of funding loss, we expect hospital closures and cuts to school-based mental health programs — eliminating key lifelines for students who already face multiple systemic barriers to care.”

“This legislation represents more than a policy shift — it represents a retreat from our collective responsibility to care for our youth,” said Byron Clift Breland, Chairman of the Board at The Steve Fund. “While we are deeply concerned by these cuts, we remain steadfast in our mission. The Steve Fund will continue to partner with schools, families, and communities to make sure that our young people, especially the most vulnerable, are seen, supported, and not overlooked.”

With Medicaid in jeopardy, it is more important than ever to ensure our communities are equipped with the resources and support they need:

• The Steve Fund’s My Digital Sanctuary is an online safe space for soul care, which combines culturally relevant resources and creative modules to support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of young people
• The Steve Fund’s Family Corner  offers mental health resources to support yourself and your family through challenging times
• Crisis Text Line: Text STEVE to 741741 for 24/7 confidential support, and a culturally trained counselor will assist you.

This BIPOC Mental Health Month, we urge you to join us in protecting our youth. Advocate. Donate. Share. The Steve Fund calls on policymakers, schools, providers, and community leaders to act with urgency to protect the mental health of the nation’s most vulnerable young people.