Your new hub for California mental health advocacy.

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Weekly Newsletter

April 12th, 2018

NAMI CA ADVOCACY ACTION CENTER WEBSITE LAUNCH

We are excited to launch the NAMI CA Advocacy Action Center.

Here, you'll find resources for advocates, information on current mental health legislation and policy, and our advocacy event calendar. You can also learn more about the NAMI CA advocacy team and find your local and statewide policymakers.

The action center will be regularly updated to include the status on each of our supported bills, including how you can help them move through the legislature.

Bookmark www.namicaadvocacy.org to stay informed on the issues that matter most.

Visit Us Now!

In this newsletter:

Advocacy Updates
Statewide Mental Health News
Events & Meetings

Advocacy

Thank you all for your feedback on NAMI California’s current bill list . NAMI California is very interested in the issues of redefining gravely disabled and reassessing conservatorships. We are currently working with authors’ offices to get our questions answered and make sure that these far-reaching policies properly serve families and individuals. For comments and concerns, please contact [email protected] .

We are also happy to announce that SB 1363 – NAMI California’s sponsored bill to create a voluntary tax check off fund that will support crisis intervention teams around the state – passed through its first committee on a unanimous vote. A BIG THANK YOU to the individuals and affiliates who sent in support letters!

NEW Action Alerts

Action Alert: Support

SAME DAY ACCESS FOR

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE

In California, if a patient receives treatment at a community health center from both a medical provider and a mental health specialist on the same day, Medi-Cal will only cover one of those treatments. A patient has to receive treatment on a different day if they want their second treatment covered. SB 1125 bill allows local community health centers to bill Medi-Cal for mental health services and other medical services on the same day.

SB 1125 WILL BE HEARD IN THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE ON APRIL 25TH AT 1:30 P.M. IN ROOM 4203.

For ways to take action, click below:

Take Action

Action Alert: Support

CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING

FOR POLICE OFFICERS

SB 1363 creates the National Alliance on Mental Illness, California Voluntary Tax Contribution fund and allows taxpayers to donate to the fund using their state tax form. Donations would fund a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program to train police officers to better help and safely interact with someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

SB 1363 WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOLLOWING NEXT WEEK'S SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON APRIL 16TH.

For ways to take action, click below:

Take Action

NAMI CA Regional Advocacy Meeting

NAMI California along with NAMI Contra Costa will come together on Monday, April 30 ^th to hold a Regional Advocacy Meeting. Regional Advocacy meetings are designed to bring together members of the public, community-based organizations (NAMI and Partners), and county staff to talk about the public planning process. Meetings bolster collaboration and can help strengthen the relationship between family members and staff. In addition, NAMI California will cover NAMI Smarts for Advocacy materials to conduct at least 1 module depending on the needs of attendees. Everyone from peers, family members, providers, county staff and community members are welcomed to join us. Materials used and topics discussed will support advocacy endeavors for participating attendees.

Date: Monday, April 30 ^th , 2018

Time: 9am-3:30pm

Location: Hillcrest Congregational Church (404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA 94523)

Registration link below will take you to an online questionnaire that helps us gather important data and ultimately informs materials for the meeting. For any questions email [email protected]

Download flyer here.

Statewide Mental Health News

Launch of MHSA Fiscal Reporting Tool 2.0

Earlier this week, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC)released a substantial update to its Fiscal Reporting Tool. Counties receive more than $4.5 billion annually in State support for various mental health programs, including Mental Health Services Act programs. This tool displays information about funding and expenditures by County Mental Health/Behavioral Health departments in programs under the MHSA, including revenue from the Mental Health Services Fund and Realignment funds, as well as Medi-Cal matching funds.

California Reducing Disparities Project releases Strategic Plan to Reduce Mental Health Disparities

This report was developed by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network in partnership with the California Reducing Disparities Project Partners, and released on Tuesday at the California Reducing Disparities Project: Advancing Mental Health Equity Statewide Conference. The report focuses on five populations, including African Americans; Asians and Pacific Islanders (API); Latinos; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) communities; and Native Americans, and provides community-driven recommendations to reduce mental health disparities through policy change and program development.

Download

Events & Meetings

May is Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month is around the corner and there are events throughout the state aiming to bring awareness to the general public. Don't forget to conclude this action-packed month by attending our Multicultural Symposium May 31 and Annual Statewide Conference June 1 - 2! Event details below!

Children’s Mental Health Spring Advocacy Day

Tuesday, May 1 ^st , 2018

Time: 9:30am-3:30pm

Please join us for a day of advocacy for children’s mental health at the state capitol. This is a chance to join other enthusiastic people to discuss important issues with legislators and their staff. It is also a great opportunity to combine your voice with the voices of people from other organizations to support common legislative goals. We will begin in the morning around 10:00 am and end in the late afternoon. Lunch will be provided. Stay tuned for the agenda! FREE TO ATTEND.

Please click here to register. For questions please contact [email protected]

Mental Health Matters Day

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2018

Time: 9:30am - 2pm

Please join us for Mental Health Matters Day organized by Mental Health America around community Mental Health Awareness with our partners and general public outside the Capitol on Wednesday, May 23 ^rd . The event will consist of various speakers, entertainment, resources and an opportunity to spread awareness. Nadia Ghaffari, founder of TeenzTalk and senior at Los Altos High School will present Empowering Youth Voice: Peer Support & Fostering Youth-Led Initiatives Around Mental Health at the event. In addition, Paul Gilmartin will emcee the event again this year.

Click here to see view event flyer!

Click here to register for this FREE event!

Click here to visit our Facebook event page

Click here for more sponsorship information.

Stepping Up is hosting a national Day of Action

May 16, 2018

Stepping Up was launched in May 2015 to address the prevalence of people who have mental illnesses in jails and provide counties with resources to create sustainable, data-driven plans to impact this crisis. Since Stepping Up's launch, more than 420 counties have passed a resolution or proclamation committing to acting on this issue.

On May 16, 2018, Stepping Up is hosting a national Day of Action , during which counties are encouraged to hold an event or participate in local activities to share with constituents the progress they have made toward reducing the number of people who have mental illnesses in their jails, raise public awareness and understanding of this important issue, and emphasize their commitment to creating data-driven, systems-level changes to policy and practice to achieve their Stepping Up goals.

Join your peers in hosting an event in your community. More details and a toolkit to help you plan your Day of Action are available at StepUpTogether.org.

Directing Change Film Screening & Award Ceremony

May 22 ^nd , 2018

11am to 2pm

Directing Change is part of Each Mind Matters - California’s Mental Health Movement and encourages young people to create films about suicide prevention and mental health. This festive event includes a screening of short films created by young filmmakers to change the conversation about suicide prevention and mental health at their schools and in their communities, and a reception.

Event Details:

May 22nd, 2018 11am to 2pm

11 am - Red Carpet & Reception (food provided)

12 pm - Screening & Award Ceremony

Theatre at Ace Hotel: 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Self-parking is available for $12; validated parking is available for $20

This is a free event. Reserved VIP seats can be purchased for a donation.

Cultural Competency & Responsiveness Webinars

Looking to engage diverse racial and ethnic communities in an empowering and equitable manner? These webinars aim to equip NAMI members, affiliates, city/county staff, and the community at large with the tools and information needed to engage diverse communities. All webinar training sessions are guided by trained presenters and provide opportunities for live participant interaction.

Webinars may be attended as a series or individually, depending on the needs and interests of your organization.

To register for a webinar, click on the webinar's link below: