By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A group of mothers is advocating to protect a statewide maternal mental health help line, saying budget language left its long-term funding uncertain.
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The Arizona Psychiatry Access Line, known as APAL, is a free statewide service that gives health care providers and pregnant or postpartum mothers real-time access to psychiatric experts. It is run through the University of Arizona.
Dr. Alina Boelman, of Tanque Verde Pediatrics, said she has used the line for guidance on treating depression, anxiety and other conditions.
“Any clinician in Arizona can call this line and get access to a psychiatrist that specializes in either pediatric or perinatal mental health,” Boelman said.
Boelman said the line allows patients to get specialized care quickly.
“What that means for the patient is specialized care without having that month long waiting list or months long waiting list or having to drive to another city or town or doing telehealth,” Boelman said.
Kelsey Glynn, with the Chamber of Mothers Phoenix-Gilbert Chapter, said the line was at risk of losing funding at the end of this month.
The recently passed 2027 state budget states the University of Arizona “shall use not more than $1,200,000” to operate the line.
Glynn said the issue is the language in the budget. She said there is a funding ceiling but no floor to guarantee the University of Arizona would fully cover the line’s costs.
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“It’s really a band-aid for this funding of this line that is so critical to moms when it comes to maternal mental health,” Glynn said. “What we’re seeing is that every single year, this line has to go through the process of advocating for continuous funding.”
The Chamber of Moms sent a letter to the University of Arizona urging the school to act. The university responded, committing to short-term support.
In a statement to Arizona’s Family, a University of Arizona spokesperson said, “There will be no interruption to APAL services on Oct. 1, and the University is working with the State of Arizona to resolve the program’s longer-term funding.”
Glynn said she suffered on a wait list for mental health care as a mother and will continue advocating for APAL’s future.
“Moms show up for moms,” Glynn said.
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