[{"id": 1785, "archived": false, "name": "NAMI Connecticut Public Policy & Advocacy", "action_center": 1319, "path": "/public_policy/", "title": "", "page_restriction_type": 1, "widgets": [{"props": {"id": 1704, "title": "NAMI Connecticut Public Policy & Advocacy", "content": "

*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.

", "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": 4}, {"props": {"id": 1704, "title": "Sign Up", "content": "

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": "2025 NAMI Connecticut Legislative Priorities", "content": "

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The\nNational Alliance on Mental Illness - Connecticut Chapter (NAMI CT) will be\nfocused on the following 4 priorities during the 2025 Legislative Session:

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1) \nIncreased funding for mental health\nservice providers and increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rates for same

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2) \nFunding for the Department of\nCorrections so they can truly provide needed physical and mental health care in\ntheir facilities for their clientele, as well as full implementation of the\nstatutory language from the passage of 2022\u2019s Protect Act

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3) \nFully fund the creation and ongoing\noperation of 8 Peer-run Respite facilities

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4) \nTrue and transparent reporting and\nenforcement of existing Mental Health Parity laws from private healthcare\ninsurance providers

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NAMI CT - FULL POLICY AGENDA & ALIGNMENT WITH NAMI NATIONAL

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness believes that:

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\u25cf \nAll people with mental health conditions deserve\naccessible, affordable and comprehensive health care.

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\u25cf \nAll people with mental health conditions deserve\naccess to supports that promote wellness.

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\u25cf \nAll people with mental health conditions who are\nincarcerated deserve access to quality mental health treatment.

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\u25cf \nPublic policies and practices should promote\ngreater awareness and early identification of mental health conditions.

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\u25cf \nPublic policies should be guided by credible,\nevidence-based research.

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\u25cf \nJustice system responses to people with mental\nillness should be minimized while ensuring that any interactions preserve\nhealth, well-being and dignity.

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\u25cf \nNo one should be subject to practices that can\ncause or worsen mental health symptoms.

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As such, NAMI focuses public policy advocacy in four key areas:

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1.\nImproving Health: NAMI National fights for policies to ensure\npeople get the best possible care. \nAligned with this national goal, NAMI CT advocates for public policies\nthat:

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\u25cf \nRecognize the need for a comprehensive vision\nand strategy for mental health care, including:

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\u25cb \nEnsure that planning and policy efforts address\nthe full spectrum of behavioral health needs, across all age brackets and\nacross the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

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\u25cb \nAddress the prevalence of co-occurring disorders\nby integrating mental health into state-level policy and planning groups (e.g.,\nAlcohol and Drug Policy Council and its subcommittees).

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\u25cb \nProvide long-term funding for treatment services\nacross the lifespan and provide meaningful funding to communities for primary\nprevention (i.e., promotion of mental health, prevention of suicide, and\nprevention of substance misuse).

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\u25cf \nFill gaps in the behavioral health treatment\nsystem

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\u25cb \nInvest in workforce development across the\nbehavioral health system to increase access to prescribers, clinicians, and\npeers.

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\u25cb \nRequire DMHAS to provide trauma-focused therapy\nin inpatient facilities.

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\u25cf \nProvide adequate insurance coverage for\nbehavioral health

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\u25cb \nAddress longstanding concerns around behavioral\nhealth parity through compliance review and enforcement of existing laws.

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\u25cb \nSupport insurance reforms as needed to ensure\naccess to necessary medications, expand access to treatment for Husky clients,\nexpand access to peer support services for public and privately insured\nresidents, and improve small business ability to offer health insurance to\nemployees.

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2.\nResponding to Crises: NAMI National fights for policies to ensure\npeople in crisis get help, not handcuffs. Aligned with this national goal, NAMI\nCT advocates for public policies that:

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\u25cf \nCreate 7 additional Peer-run Respite Centers as\nsafe, short-term, supportive environments, staffed by trained Recovery Support\nSpecialists, which divert people experiencing a behavioral health crisis from\nhospitalization.

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\u25cf \nEnsure sustainable funding for the newly\nestablished children\u2019s Urgent Crisis Centers and other recent investments in\nchildren\u2019s behavioral health.

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\u25cf \nIdentify long-term funding and workforce to\nimplement the recommendations of the Transforming Children\u2019s Behavioral Health\nPolicy and Planning Committee.

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\u25cf \nExpand mental health services to individuals in\nstate-funded supportive housing, as well as expand funding for more supportive\nhousing.

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\u25cf \nExpand the utilization of peers in all treatment\nmilieus.

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3.\nStopping Harmful Practices: NAMI National fights for policies that promote\neffective interventions and that end practices that cause or worsen mental\nhealth conditions. Aligned with this national goal, NAMI CT advocates for\npublic policies that:

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\u25cf \nSupport efforts to divert people with mental\nhealth conditions from the criminal justice system, including expanding access\nto mobile and urgent crisis services, and diverting people in crisis to\ntreatment or peer-run respites.

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\u25cf \nPromote best practices & training in\nde-escalation for first responders and expand CIT training requirements for law\nenforcement.

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\u25cf \nSupport and expand mental health services in\nprisons, and limit the use of solitary confinement and restraints, as well as\nthe degrading practice of unnecessary strip searches.

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\u25cf \nSupport full reporting and limit the use of\nrestraint and seclusion in school settings.

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4.\nSupporting Community Inclusion and Non-Discrimination: NAMI\nNational fights for policies that end discrimination and help people\nsuccessfully engage in the community and focus on their mental health. Aligned with this national goal, NAMI CT\nadvocates for public policies that:

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\u25cf \nProtect the civil rights of people with mental\nhealth conditions by supporting policy changes recommended by the CT Valley\n& Whiting Hospital Task Force report, including:

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\u25cb \nUpdate the Patient's Bill of Rights

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\u25cb \nEnd recommitment to the Psychiatric Security\nReview Board (better aligning CT with other states).

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\u25cf \nOppose involuntary outpatient commitment (aka\nassisted outpatient treatment).

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Issues