Overview

In 2021, NAMI Washington (our state affiliate) will lead advocacy efforts to improve access to timely and effective behavioral health treatment and supports in the face of racial injustices, an economic downturn, and a global pandemic. NAMI WA will also analyze, position, and advocate as appropriate, introduced legislation that falls within scope of our key elements to a comprehensive behavioral health system document.

The information on this page comes from NAMI Washington.

Contacts:

• Melanie Smith, Lobbyist (smith.melaniej@gmail.com)
• Katherine Seibel, Director of Public Policy (kseibel@namiwa.org)

2021 Priorities

​Protect Funding for Behavioral Health

• Advocate for revenue to fully fund critical behavioral health services and supports that help individuals and families meet their basic needs (e.g. funding for the Housing and Essential Need program)
• Support the $250 million request for the Housing Trust Fund and advocate for housing that serves individuals with behavioral health needs;
• Advocate for $500,000 continued funding for NAMI support programs for affiliates and the state office.​​

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​Establish the Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy

• Establishment of this statewide office would: provide consumers with a single phone number and website to access the office's services.
• Advocate for consumers of the publicly funded behavioral health system, serve as a resource for patients in hospital settings, and provide feedback and recommendations on systemic improvements to the governor's office and the legislature.​

Support Decriminalization of Mental Health and Police Accountability

• $300,000 is needed to implement the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission the intersection of the criminal justice and behavioral health crisis system; work critical to decriminalizing behavioral health.
• NAMI Washington supports leaders on police accountability and communities of color disproportionately impacted by policing. These systems impact and intersect with behavioral health.

Support Implementation of the 998 Number

• NAMI Washington supports efforts to implement the new federal legislation that will establish the 988 behavioral health crisis response number and system as crisis response alternative to 911.

Additional Priorities

• Access to culturally responsive services; Mental Health Advanced Directives (MHAD) implementation.
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) expansion;
• Health insurance parity; increased access to telehealth; and increased access to broadband

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