2009 Advocacy Action Agenda

Background:
As outlined in the Consolidation Blueprint, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County has developed this Advocacy Action Agenda to guide its advocacy efforts for Calendar Year 2009. This agenda was developed with the over-arching goal of promoting personal recovery from mental illness and dependency on alcohol and other drugs.

Recovery is a process unique to each individual that is measured by reaching small and continuous goals, and is built on partnership, trust, hope, supporting choices and promoting dignity, respect and excellent care.

The ADAMHS Board's messages to legislators, state agencies, policy makers, consumers, providers and the general public, will focus on the items listed on this Advocacy Action Agenda.

This Advocacy Action Agenda is in addition to the advocacy that the ADAMHS Board is already providing through collaboration with other groups, such as the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition, NAMI and the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities. Some items on the Advocacy Action Agenda may take higher priority at different times throughout the year.

Advocacy Goals for 2009:

Funding:

Support passage of SB 15 to expand existing mental health insurance parity law to include all mental illnesses and create insurance parity for substance abuse/addiction conditions.
Support efforts to maintain the ADAMHS Board's role in the discussion of and reform of Ohio's Medicaid System for mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
Support efforts to decrease the 18 months it typically takes for people who qualify for Medicaid or SSDI to be approved.
Support efforts to amend the Federal Medicaid IMD (institution for mental disease) Rule to allow payment for alcohol and other drug treatment services provided in less costly community-based mental health residential facilities regardless of size.
Continue efforts to increase and/or maintain county, state and federal funding to the ADAMHS Board for mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction services, despite current economic crisis.
Support efforts in communicating the importance and cost savings of addressing mental health and alcohol and other drug issues with general healthcare.

System of Care:

Continue advocating for a new state mental health hospital within the City of Cleveland.
Support passage of HB 84 - Sean's Law to ensure that health-trained personnel perform a medical, dental, and mental health screening including specific questions regarding the inmates' usage of addictive drugs and alcohol upon his or her arrival at any jail to avoid death caused by withdrawal.
Support efforts to work with the justice system to decriminalize mental illness and addiction disorders to divert non-violent people with mental illness or alcohol or other addictive disorder from going to jail, when appropriate, to a designated diversion and treatment point.
Supporting efforts to expand mental health and alcohol and other drug services to individuals returning to the community after incarceration.
Support employment and housing for consumers of mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment services so that people can recover and lead full and productive lives in the community.
Support suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug prevention awareness activities.
Continue to support mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction programming in the schools.
Support efforts to advance educational opportunities and professional growth for staff of provider agencies, including the Case Western Reserve University Mental Health and Addiction Disorders Fellows program.
Support efforts to develop and promote early childhood mental health prevention programs.
Support efforts to reduce the over regulation of mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction service providers to create greater efficiencies in service provision.
Support efforts to ensure that consumers of mental health services continue to have open access to atypical antipsychotic medications.

Stay Informed About Advocacy Efforts
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County offers Cuyahoga County residents an opportunity to stay informed and become involved as advocates for mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction issues.

Consumers, family members, providers and the public may request placement on the ADAMHS Board's e-mail distribution list.

Being on our distribution list allows you to stay informed by receiving the latest news and action alerts about legislation and other issues impacting mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction in Cuyahoga County, the state of Ohio and the United States.

To have your name placed on our e-mail distribution list, or to obtain more information on the Advocacy Action Agenda, contact Scott S. Osiecki, Director of External Affairs, at osiecki@adamhscc.org, or at 216-241-3400, ext. 361.

Another way to stay informed is to visit the ADAMHS Board's web sites at www.adamhscc.org and www.networkofcare.org. You can find consumer and family information, service providers, facts about mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction, news and legislation, Board publications and general information about the Board.

Download a pfd of the Advocacy Action Agenda