MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!!
Join advocates from throughout New York State as we come together to make our voices heard during one of the most important legislative sessions in shaping the future delivery of mental health services.
We are expanding our activities this year to include two information sessions and a rally with other mental health organization on the Capitol Steps calling for increased funding for supported housing, supportive housing and community residencies.
The items that comprise 2016 NAMI-NYS Legislative Action Agenda demonstrate NAMI-NYS's belief that the best and most appropriate services are available to support all forms of recovery from mental illness and maximize mental health. Treatment options must be obtainable for people whose recovery would be best advanced in community settings as well as people with the most severe forms of psychiatric disorders who need more all-encompassing care.
NAMI-NYS will be at the Albany Room located on the Empire State Concourse (by the entrance to the Legislative Office Building) beginning at 9am that day to distribute packets for legislative visits.
There will be a formal program reviewing the Action Agenda items at 10am.
NAMI-NYS staff members will be available throughout the morning to help you review the Action Agenda and role-play with you before your visits.
After learning about the 2016 NAMI-NYS Action Agenda attendees will visit their legislators.
A complimentary lunch will be provided during the formal program taking place between 11:30 and 12:30. Following the program we will join other mental health advocates on the Capitol Steps to call for more safe and affordable housing for people with mental illness.
We need as many grass-roots advocates as possible to tell our elected officials that we will not allow people living with mental illness to receive anything less than the most comprehensive services to advance their recovery.
We are also arranging to have more bus options available as we do not want a lack of transportation to be an obstacle to attending.
(click on the blue titles for more information)
Continued Reinvestment in Community Services
Access to Appropriate Medication
Mental Health Education in Schools
Top Five Bills NAMI-NYS is Advocating For:
1-S-3419A/A-2834A-Regulate Step Therapy: This bill would increase a doctor's ability to override an insurance company's decision not to approve prescribed medication and only approve a less expensive option.
2-A3887/S2585 -Mental Health Education in Schools: This bill calls on school districts to ensure that their health education programs recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and the relation between mental and physical health in health education.
3- S-3004-Paid Family Leave Act: This bill which has been passed by the Assembly would allow an employee to take a paid leave after the birth of a child or to care for a loved one who is experiencing a physical or psychiatric emergency or has a chronic illness.
4-A01275-Make Kendra’s Law Permanent: This bill would amend the mental hygiene law and the correction law in order to improve care for people with serious mental illness, and protect the safety of patients and the public by streamlining and improving New York's Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program "Kendra's Law."
5-S.5900-Regulate the use of Solitary Confinement: This bill would prohibit the use of solitary confinement for juveniles under the age of twenty-one and any person with a mental illness or a developmental disability.
Schedule of Formal Programs and Rally
10am Action Agenda Overview and Questions-Albany Room
- We will review our action agenda and answer any questions you have.
11:30-12:30 Lunch Program-Albany Room
- Lunch served
- Anne Sullivan, MD, Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health
- Addresses by legislative leaders and members of the NYS Senate and Assembly Mental Health Committees.
12:30-1pm Housing Rally-Capitol Steps
- Join mental health advocates in calling for increased funding for housing.
PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE LEGISLATIVE VISITS DURING THE LUNCH PROGRAM AND RALLY.
SCHEDULE YOUR LEGISLATIVE VISITS TODAY!
Please let us know if you need NAMI-NYS's help in scheduling your meetings by calling 518-462-2000 and ask for Matthew Shapiro
Click here to find your Assemblymember
Click here to find your Senator.
Click here to view and download the NAMI-NYS Advocacy Tool-Kit
The kit will help you best project your advocacy voice by:
- Detailing our advocacy agenda
- Providing strategies to have the most impactful legislative visits
- Speaking points on our issues
- Providing templates for Letters to the Editor on our key issues
- Information on how to engage in advocacy activities on social media