WyoLeg 2026: What We’re Watching and Advocating for This Year

Here at Cathedral Home, all of us have a role to play when it comes to advocating for youth and families year-round. We know fighting for policies that uplift the mental health and wellness of youth and families is critical – especially now, when more young people than ever are feeling anxious, disconnected, and alone.

Our team closely monitors policy changes on the local, state, and federal level that could affect kids and families’ ability to thrive. One of the most significant opportunities we have to make our voices heard as advocates is during Wyoming’s legislative session, held in Cheyenne for several weeks each year.

This year, the legislative session begins on Monday, Feb. 9. Wyoming operates on a biennial budget, meaning every even-numbered year, lawmakers focus primarily on passing a state budget. A budget session is typically shorter – lasting around four weeks – than legislative sessions that occur on odd-numbered years.

Though the words “state budget” may not sound exciting, the budget that Wyoming legislators pass every two years has the potential to make a huge impact on how critical mental health services for youth and families are funded. In this post, we’ll explore the top legislative issues we’re watching as we prepare for this session, and how you can help us speak up for youth.

Funding and Reimbursement for Mental Health Services

One of the most critical issues we’re watching this legislative session is funding and reimbursement rates for youth service providers.

Cathedral Home – along with 17 other agencies and nonprofits that make up the Wyoming Youth Services Association (WYSA) – receives funding from multiple sources, including the Department of Family Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education. When state funding and reimbursement rates fail to cover the rising costs of caring for children and families, organizations must fundraise to close the gap, pull from reserves, or make difficult programming decisions.

Youth service organizations across Wyoming are facing increasing costs, from staff salaries and benefits to insurance, utilities, food, and other essential expenses. Like families and businesses statewide, youth-serving providers have felt the impact of inflation in recent years. Yet the state’s reimbursement rates have not kept pace with these increasing costs, placing financial strain on the agencies delivering critical behavioral health care and support to Wyoming’s youth.

Medicaid reimbursement rates play a major role in sustaining residential treatment and behavioral health services for children. While the Wyoming Department of Health initially included Medicaid rate increases in its budget proposal this year, those increases were subsequently cut from the proposal by the Joint Appropriations Committee. As a result, any adjustment to Medicaid reimbursement rates would now need to be introduced by a legislator on the House or Senate floor.

Similarly, the Department of Family Services reimburses facilities that provide care to children in DFS custody, as well as Medicaid-enrolled children residing in those facilities. Despite the growing costs of care, DFS did not include a rate increase in its proposed budget this year.

Without adequate reimbursement, some providers are forced to limit services, reduce their programs and capacity, and struggle to retain staff. These challenges impact the availability and quality of care for youth who need it most.

At Cathedral Home, we believe fair and sustainable funding is essential to maintaining a strong continuum of care and ensuring that youth and families can access mental health services across the Cowboy State.

Independent Living Funds

This year, the Wyoming Department of Family Services’ proposed budget includes a nearly $1 million expansion of its Independent Living Program, which provides federally funded services to youth ages 14 through 20 who have experienced foster care. These services include case management, educational support, assistance with emergency expenses, and other resources designed to help young people build stability as they move toward adulthood.

At its core, independent living services help youth navigate the transition into adulthood with greater confidence and support. While the federally funded Chafee Grant Program — which Cathedral Home receives funding through — already helps provide transition and independent living services, not all eligible youth are currently able to access those supports.

Under DFS' proposed expansion, the Independent Living Program could reach more currently unserved youth and strengthen services for young people aging out of care. For Wyoming’s most vulnerable young people, this investment could be a promising step forward for kids and families.

Suicide Prevention Education

If passed during session, a House proposal brought forth by Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, could require Wyoming school districts to provide suicide prevention education to its students. The bill would ensure that Wyoming students receive age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention programming at school.

In the past, some Wyoming lawmakers have pushed back against legislating suicide prevention programming, arguing that increased discussion of suicide can increase suicidal behavior. This is a misconception and a myth. Research consistently shows that talking openly and responsibly about suicide reduces suicidal ideation, increases the likelihood that someone will seek help, and leads to better mental health outcomes overall.

Wyoming consistently ranks near the top among states with the highest rates of suicide, a high number of people who experience at least one major depressive episode per year, and lowest rates of access to care. It is absolutely critical that Wyoming lawmakers understand the scope of the mental health crisis in our state and prioritize legislation that actively addresses the problem. We also believe suicide prevention must begin long before a person reaches a point of crisis, and that true prevention requires addressing stigma, fostering connection, and investing strongly in mental health care at all levels.

How You Can Advocate for Youth and Families

The work of advocacy belongs to all of us – that means you, too. Lawmakers rely on input from their communities to understand how budget and policy affect real people. But that doesn’t mean advocating has to be time-consuming or complicated. Here are a few simple ways you can help speak up for kids and families during this year’s session:

• Stay informed – follow updates from trusted sources (like Cathedral Home or the Wyoming Youth Services Association!) to gain a better understanding of what issues are being considered and why they matter. Sign up to receive our quarterly Advocates newsletter at cathedralhome.org/action – we'll help keep you in the know. You can also follow CHC and WYSA on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, where we’ll share bite-sized updates from the Capitol throughout session.

• Reach out to your legislators – An email or phone call to your senator or representative can go a long way. You don’t need to be an expert! Sharing why youth mental health services, foster care supports, or fair funding matters to you is enough. Not sure who represents you at the state level? Visit ballotpedia.org/who_represents_me.

• Share what you’re learning – Talking with friends, family, and coworkers, or sharing reliable information on social media, helps raise awareness about the issues facing Wyoming’s youth. The more people understand what’s at stake, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

• Support youth-serving organizations – Whether through donating, volunteering, or another form of involvement, supporting organizations on the ground helps young people continue to access the care they need. Visit wyomingyouthservices.org/programs to find a list of statewide organizations that care for young people and families.

It takes all of us to help make sure that decisions made in Cheyenne reflect the real needs of kids and families across the state. Advocacy is one of the most powerful tools we have to build a healthier, more supportive future for Wyoming’s youth.

Have a question about advocacy for youth and families or the Wyoming legislative session? Our team would love to help! Email development@cathedralhome.org to learn more.