2017 NAMI Washington Legislative Priorities
Overview
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Washington (NAMI Washington) is part of the larger NAMI organization - the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. There is an urgent need to reform the state system of mental health treatment, to ensure that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI Washington is committed to being an active agent of change in this effort. In 2017 NAMI Washington will lead advocacy efforts to improve access to timely and effective mental health treatment by focusing on the following legislative priorities:
2017 Legislative Agenda
Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
This statement of values, principles and priorities is a first step towards ensuring that Washington State fulfills the longstanding promise of creating a comprehensive, recovery orientated system of mental health treatment and care. This is intended to be a roadmap – to ensure a focus on the priority goals, to highlight critical components, and to define elements of accountability.
NAMI Washington recognizes that, left unchanged, the current system of “mental illness care” will:
Read NAMI Washington's Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
Join NAMI Whatcom at Lobby Day
Make your Voice Heard! NAMI members and supporters are the most effective people to educate legislators about mental illness and the need to change our current "mental illness" system to a "mental health" system. NAMI Whatcom will be attending NAMI Washington's annual grassroots advocacy event to discuss the importance of mental health reform in our state.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Washington (NAMI Washington) is part of the larger NAMI organization - the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. There is an urgent need to reform the state system of mental health treatment, to ensure that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI Washington is committed to being an active agent of change in this effort. In 2017 NAMI Washington will lead advocacy efforts to improve access to timely and effective mental health treatment by focusing on the following legislative priorities:
- Protect and Increase Access to Quality Mental Health Services
- Decriminalize Behavioral Health Conditions
- Prioritize Prevention and Early Intervention
- Ensure the Financial Stability of a Quality Mental Health Care System
2017 Legislative Agenda
Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
This statement of values, principles and priorities is a first step towards ensuring that Washington State fulfills the longstanding promise of creating a comprehensive, recovery orientated system of mental health treatment and care. This is intended to be a roadmap – to ensure a focus on the priority goals, to highlight critical components, and to define elements of accountability.
NAMI Washington recognizes that, left unchanged, the current system of “mental illness care” will:
- Remain ineffectively funded and without adequate services;
- Contribute to the ongoing criminalization of people with mental illness, rising rates of homelessness, and growing stigma;
- Lack any meaningful accountability, and will remain unable to meet the needs of persons with behavioral health conditions
Read NAMI Washington's Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
Key Elements of an Effective State Mental Health Program
Join NAMI Whatcom at Lobby Day
Make your Voice Heard! NAMI members and supporters are the most effective people to educate legislators about mental illness and the need to change our current "mental illness" system to a "mental health" system. NAMI Whatcom will be attending NAMI Washington's annual grassroots advocacy event to discuss the importance of mental health reform in our state.
- When: Monday, February 20, 2017
- Where: Olympia, Washington
- Get Involved: Contact csebren@namiwhatcom.org
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