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*PLEASE NOTE: To view Campaigns, be sure to \"sign up\" via the green Sign Up button at top right section of this webpage*

Nothing is more powerful than your story. It is a testament to\nyour journey. When concise, focused, and tailored to an issue, your words\u2014 your\npersonal experience\u2014can affect meaningful change.

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At NAMI Connecticut, we track, research, and advocate for legislation\nand policies to improve the lives of people with mental health conditions and\ntheir loved ones. Together, our collective voices matter. We need you to\nadvocate with us because your story has power. Your experience can touch the\nhearts and minds of decision makers in a way that no amount of research or data\ncan.

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People like you are the reason NAMI\u2019s advocacy initiatives, from mental\nhealth parity, to healthcare expansion, have succeeded on the federal, state,\nand local levels.

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Here\u2019s how you can help:

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Take Action

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Contact your policymakers by phone or email and testify at public hearings\nusing your stories to inform and influence them to support legislation that\nimproves the lives of people with mental illness and their loved ones.

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Learn

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Read news articles, journals, and editorials on mental health\nissues and the workings of government. Stay up to date on NAMI\u2019s priorities and\npositions on mental health policies.

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Vote

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Mental health is on every ballot, at every election so it is\nimportant to vote in every election, for every office. Ask the candidates questions\nabout their positions on mental health issues, check out their public statements\non the issues that matter to you, and arm yourself with the facts about an\nincumbent\u2019s voting record.

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NAMI Connecticut champions better care and better lives for the hundreds of thousands of people in Connecticut affected by mental health conditions. Join our movement!

", "post_text": "Thank you for joining the movement! We\u2019ll reach out when your elected officials need to hear from you about the issues you care about."}, "widgetType": 9}, {"props": {"title": "2024 NAMI Connecticut Legislative Priorities", "content": "

In accordance with NAMI\u2019s national public policy focus to:

\u2022 Improve Care - NAMI fights for policies to ensure people get the best possible care. This includes expanding access to health insurance, requiring parity coverage of mental health care, and ensuring that the right services are available at the right time.

\u2022 Intervene Early - NAMI fights for policies to ensure people get help early. This includes better research to detect and identify mental illness, integration of mental health care into primary care settings, and access to mental health in schools.

\u2022 Divert from Justice Involvement - NAMI fights for policies to get people help, not handcuffs. This includes expanding access to crisis services, promoting best practices in de-escalation, and diversion of people experiencing psychiatric crises to treatment. NAMI fights for policies to get people help, not handcuffs. This includes expanding access to crisis services, promoting best practices in de-escalation, and diversion of people experiencing psychiatric crises to treatment.

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NAMI Connecticut\u2019s priorities for the 2024 Connecticut Legislative Session are aligned with the

national priorities and include the following:

(1) Improve Care

Recognize the Need for a Comprehensive Vision and Strategy for Mental Health Care

\u25cf Create a process for re-envisioning adult behavioral health to work in tandem with the new

Transforming Children\u2019s Behavioral Health Policy & Planning Committee. Identify needs and systems

by age bracket (children, transitional age youth, young adults, adults, seniors).

\u25cf Address the prevalence of co-occurring disorders by integrating mental health into state-level policy

and planning groups (e.g., Alcohol and Drug Policy Council and its subcommittees).

\u25cf Provide long-term funding for treatment services across the lifespan, and provide meaningful

funding to communities for primary prevention (i.e., promotion of mental health, prevention of

suicide, and prevention of substance misuse).

Fill Gaps in the Mental Health Treatment System

\u25cf Create Peer-run Respite Centers (cf national model like Afiya) as safe, short-term, supportive

environments, staffed by trained Recovery Support Specialists, which divert people experiencing a

behavioral health crisis from hospitalization.

\u25cf Expand Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) services for early psychosis, incorporating peer supports.

\u25cf Invest in workforce development across the behavioral health system to increase access to

prescribers, clinicians, and peers.

Provide Adequate Insurance Coverage for Mental Health

\u25cf Address longstanding concerns around behavioral health parity through compliance review and

enforcement of existing laws.

\u25cf Ensure the permanent continuation of telehealth.

\u25cf Support insurance reforms as needed to ensure access to necessary medications, expand access to

treatment for Husky clients, expand access to peer support services for public and privately insured

residents, and improve small business ability to offer health insurance to employees.

Protect Civil Rights of People with Mental Health Conditions

\u25cf Support policy changes recommended by the CT Valley & Whiting Hospital Task Force report by

updating the Patient's Bill of Rights and ending recommitment to the Psychiatric Security Review Board

(better aligning CT with other states).

Homelessness and Housing

\u25cf Increase mental health services to individuals in state-funded supportive housing.

\u25cf Expand full continuum of housing options, from short-term respites (including peer-run respite) to

long-term supported housing.

\u25cf Strengthen the 211 system to ensure competency to identify, prioritize, and appropriately house

individuals with mental illness and divert them from homelessness.

(2) Intervene Early

\u25cf Ensure sustainable funding for the newly established children\u2019s urgent care centers and other recent

investments in children\u2019s behavioral health.

\u25cf Identify long-term funding and workforce to implement the recommendations of the new

Transforming Children\u2019s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee.

(3) Divert from Justice Involvement

\u25cf Support efforts to divert people with mental health conditions from the criminal justice system,

including expanding access to mobile & urgent crisis services; diverting people experiencing psychiatric

crises to treatment or peer respites; embedding social workers in police departments.

\u25cf Promote training in de-escalation for first responders, including expanding CIT training requirements

for law enforcement and increasing the amount of training on disabilities that is required of police

cadets (currently only 10 hours are required to cover all disabilities).

\u25cf Support and expand mental health services in prisons.

NAMI CT Legislative Priorities for 2024 - approved Jan. 2024

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Action Alert for Mental Health Parity Bill