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KEEP THE PROMISE COALITION

KEEP THE PROMISE COALITION. Alicia Woodsby, MSW Public Policy Director National Alliance on Mental Illness, CT NAMI-CT. WHO WE ARE. A Connecticut coalition of advocates dedicated to advocating for the “Blue Ribbon Solutions”

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KEEP THE PROMISE COALITION

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  1. KEEP THE PROMISE COALITION Alicia Woodsby, MSW Public Policy Director National Alliance on Mental Illness, CT NAMI-CT

  2. WHO WE ARE • A Connecticut coalition of advocates dedicated to advocating for the “Blue Ribbon Solutions” • Founder - Attorney Jan Van Tassel, Executive Director of Connecticut Legal Rights Project (CLRP) • U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in L.C. v. Olmstead • Brought together mental health advocates from diverse groups with competing agendas • Sheila Amdur, then President of NAMI-CT joined forces with Van Tassel and organized Coalition

  3. BEGINNINGS Members agreed on a joint initiative for the comprehensive community based services and housing the state promised to persons in recovery, providers, and taxpayers NAMI-CT organized and has led the coalition along with CLRP Honest look at what was preventing collaboration with many of the other advocacy groups – Outpatient Commitment

  4. BEGINNINGS NAMI-CT Board decided that the main issue confronting CT was the lack of services for people with the highest needs and all the work and advocacy would be focused on changing the service system Dramatic change in the trust level and consumer groups, Mental Health Association, and many others came to the table

  5. BLUE RIBBON SOLUTIONS • KTP Advocacy a major factor in persuading then Governor Rowland to establish The Blue Ribbon Commission on Mental Health, which issued its landmark report in July of 2000. Examples of Key Recommendations: • “Address gridlock in care delivery for children and adults” • “Adjust rates to ensure adequate support for mental health services”

  6. BLUE RIBBON SOLUTIONS “Enhance community services for children and adults” “Ensure coordinated care for young adults who are transitioning…” “Address the programmatic and financial needs of the mental health system”

  7. SPONSORS • Advisory Council for Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness • Advocacy Unlimited, Inc. • Advocates for CT Children and Youth • African-Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities • Bridge House • Bridges Open Door • Center for Children’s Advocacy, Inc. • Chrysalis Clubhouse • City of Bridgeport Office for Persons with Disabilities • Collaborative Center for Justice • CT AIDS Resource Coalition • CT Association of Centers for Independent Living • CT Association for Community Action • CT Civil Liberties Union • CT Disability Advocacy Collaborative • CT League of Women Voters • CT Legal Rights Project (CLRP) • CT Partnership for Strong Communities • CT Positive Action Coalition • CT Voices for Children • CT Women’s Consortium • Corporation for Supportive Housing Disabilities Network of Eastern CT Disabilities Resource Center of Fairfield County Drop-In Center Eastern CT Regional Mental Health Board Families United for Children’s Mental Heath FAVOR Fellowship Place Friendship House Genesis Center Gilead Community Services Greater Respect Aid and Support for Parents (GRASP) Laurel House Mental Health Association of CT National Alliance on Mental Illness-CT (NAMI-CT) North Central Regional Mental Health Board Northwest Regional Mental Health Board Padres Abriendo Puertas Prime Time House The Reaching Home Campaign Region II Mental Health Board Reliance House Southeast Regional Mental Heath Board State Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services The Salvation Army

  8. PARTNERS Chrysalis Center, Inc. CT Association of Non-Profits CT Association of Mental Health Clinics for Children CT Community Providers Association CT Federation of Educational and Professional Employees CT Occupational Therapy Association District 1199 New England Healthcare Employees Union Milford Child & Adolescent Service System Program National Association of Social Workers, CT Reliance House, Inc. (Norwich) Village for Families & Children

  9. OUTCOMES Built a powerful advocacy base with focused activities during the legislative sessions; Developed training materials and curriculums on legislative advocacy; candidate forums, and media; and Became a recognized and respected presence among legislative leaders.

  10. CRITICAL COMPONENTS KTP LOGO KTP ACTIVITIES THE BREAKFAST CLUB GOLDEN PEN AWARD LOCAL ACTION ADVOCATES TELL-IT-LIKE-IT-IS TESTIFIERS VISIBILITY PATROL WINTER HOLIDAY CARD CONTEST AWARDS CEREMONY

  11. CRITICAL COMPONENTS Monthly Coalition Meetings Co-Chairs – Leaders from NAMI-CT and CT Legal Rights Project Annual Basic and Advanced Legislative Advocacy Training Annual Regional Trainings related to media advocacy, supportive housing, candidate forums

  12. CRITICAL COMPONENTS CONTINUED Central Source of Information, Technical Assistance, and Mobilization Ownership and Buy-in by Individual and Organizational Members Recognition for Participation and Efforts Annual Legislative Agenda Broadly Distributed in Tri-Fold Format Stipends for travel, food, and child care

  13. FOCUSED AND TARGETED INITIATIVES Concrete Goals and Objectives: • strengthen and expand the coalition’s presence and influence statewide by increasing its regional trainings and outreach to diverse groups (2) increase its focus and capacity to sustain an effective, year-round media presence

  14. FOCUSED AND TARGETED INITIATIVES • Quarterly Newsletter • Comprehensive Website Equipped with Tools and Resources • E-Advocacy Tools (Web Host and Database) • Individual Work Plans

  15. FOCUSED AND TARGETED INITIATIVES Increase participation in the KTP Legislative Advocacy Trainings, especially among diverse consumer and family populations. Increase the number of Coalition members testifying at hearings/attending hearings Increase the number of meetings with legislators among Coalition staff and members

  16. CHALLENGES AND LESSONS • Keep your message simple • Keep your agenda focused • Continuous yearly presence at the Capitol • Sustain participation while working on growth • Bridge gap between grassroots needs and political climate and limits – attainable vs. unattainable goals Remember our Basic Message: “Fund Housing Options & Community Services!”

  17. CHALLENGES AND LESSONS Strengthen active participation of key groups Build collaborative relationships with others, particularly groups for older adults (e.g. AARP), those with physical disabilities, and Medicaid/Medicare issues

  18. CHALLENGES AND LESSONS • Work with special interest groups like police, unions, and others on issues on which you have common ground • Increase participation among members in decision-making regarding advocacy strategies and objectives

  19. THANK YOU publicpolicy@namict.org 1-800-215-3021 Keep the Promise Coalition c/o NAMI-CT 241 Main Street, 5th Floor Hartford, CT 06106 www.ctkeepthepromise.org

  20. NAMI 2008 Annual Convention“Tomorrowland Today: Making Recovery Real” You say Coalition, I say “Partnership” Presentation: Sunday, June 15, 2008, 1:15pm – 2:15pm Building Diverse Coalition that Get Results Orlando, Florida Major Sam Cochran Crisis Intervention Team Sam.cochran@memphistn.gov Phone: 901-545-5735

  21. You say Coalition,I say “Partnership” Coalition: 1. A temporary alliance of factions, nations, etc. 2. For some specific purpose, as of political parties in times of national emergency. Partnership 1. The state of being a partner; participation. 2. The relationship of partners; joint interest; association. 3. An association of two or more partners in a business enterprise – a contract by which such an association is created – the people so associated.

  22. Identifying and Developing CIT “Partnerships” • Identifying • Law Enforcement • Mental Health Providers (services) • Advocates (NAMI and/or MHA and/or other) • Other partnerships to be included – justice services, corrections, health and community services, universities (educational), community faith, community economic (business), government/political

  23. Identifying and Developing CIT “Partnerships” • Developing • Study, collect and absorb information = understanding • Formalize a NAMI membership approach = a plan, a direction (members need to be united) • Extend invitations to structure a “taskforce/committee” • Formal (political structured) • Informal (advocacy structured)

  24. Understanding the “dynamics” of Partnership Building • Law Enforcement will often say… • “It’s all about training…” • Mental HealthProviders will often say… • “We have no MH system and only limited services...” • Family members and Consumerswill say… • “We’re ready to go forward...”

  25. Plan your meeting / agenda with Law Enforcement • Do “homework” concerning Law Enforcement • How many members (officers/deputies) • How many crisis calls • Square miles of coverage (specific to County interest) • Talk to law enforcement officers/deputies prior to meeting • Express appreciation for meeting, acknowledging many other critical and important issues • Ask for cooperation to address issues from a community perspective/approach • Ask for a designated person (Supervisor) to be a contact person representing Law Enforcement interest

  26. Plan your meeting / agenda with a NAMI Approach • Introduce NAMI’s mission and organizational structure (brief – but with dignity and honor) • Emphasize community involvement & support – one page handout about NAMI • Emphasize the population figures (numbers) that NAMI represents and advocates for as an organization (Local, State and National) • Example: Estimate the population of SPMI numbers within County (NAMI local/county area)

  27. Stay Informed Keep CIT as a “Community Topic”“A Community Priority”CIT is Not a Law Enforcement Program – CIT is a “Community” Program. • NAMI’s National CIT In Action Newsletter • CIT International (up-coming organization) • State, County and local CIT programs

  28. CIT (Partnerships) Cost / Funding? • Start-up funding is helpful (grants and/or sponsors) • Continuous funding may be a challenge • Encourage “partnerships”… participating as “in-kind services” • Community partnerships with ownerships • Collection of statistical / outcome data • Continuous advocacy: • Education is continuously woven within the partnerships • Disclosing the word “Prejudice” is more pronounced and intense than the word -- “stigma”

  29. NAMI’s Partnership Role • Fact finding & Research • Knowing system strengths and weaknesses • Familiarity with current systems and Administrators (What are the timeframes and/or restrictions of crisis services) • Familiarity with “state laws” – What role or influence does state law play within the present systems (law enforcement & mental health) • NAMI Mission Statement or Plan • Adages frequently … “CIT, it’s more than just training”

  30. Keep the CIT “train moving”All aboard… Do not allow set-backs or lack of full cooperation “derail” the momentum – “The train is leaving, if you miss it, we’ll (NAMI) be back to pick ‘you’ up.”

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