As a mental health professional for 11+ years, I am no stranger to change. I accept change as the norm in this field, as any agency funded by state or federal funds does. My colleagues and I are  part of the population that must implement any changes and explain the resulting impact to our clients, whether it be negative or positive.  I welcome any and all changes that would positively impact anyone utilizing mental health services in our state, as well as crack down on unscrupulous providers, but the newest changes in regulations for Mental Health Support Services are counterproductive in my opinion. I am on the frontline, working with individuals daily who have many, many challenges. I have had the privilege of working with individuals who have made great progress in better managing their Axis I symptoms and learned new skills that have been integral in decreasing or eliminating hospitalizations or incarcerations. MHSS is a lifeline to many upon entering services. Individuals, many fearful, distrusting of others, isolated and  reporting feelings of hopelessness enter services with a wall up or a sense that no one will be able to help them navigate through their specific challenges.  These are our mothers, fathers, children and siblings. They are not a diagnosis; they are wonderful people in need of specialized skills training to help them get to a place where they can live a quality life for days and years to come. To reduce them down to whether they have the "appropriate" checks marked off beside their name on the new, limited criteria for  services such as diagnosis, hospitalizations, medications, and even place of residence if under 21 is moving backwards and counterproductive. If changes are finalized as is, we will see an increase in hospitalizations, homelessness, violent crimes and incarceration. That is a fact. Programs such as MHSS are proven to decrease all of the above. I wish lawmakers could walk in my shoes for a week or even a day so they could see what life on the frontline is like for our clients, and while you consider my invitation, please coordinate with me to "walk the walk" on the day I have to tell clients I have built long term,  trusting relationships with that they are history and no longer welcome in our program despite making progress and requiring ongoing skills training and reinforcement to decrease probability of hospitalization, incarceration  or suicidailty, etc. because he/she does not meet criteria any longer. These days are upon us and devastating for many individuals who will return to square one and fall through the cracks because we pushed them. I hope our legislators hear our feedback and listen to the voices from the frontline to propel positive changes to current regulations.